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What Alex Marquez’s manager thinks about possible reunion with Marc Marquez at Ducati factory team

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Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez have been MotoGP teammates twice before. When the younger brother broke into the premier class in 2020, he joined the Honda factory team.

They would only race together once that year, with Marc suffering a complex arm injury at the opening round in Jerez. He missed the remainder of the campaign.

Alex completed the full calendar, but Honda were dissatisfied with his 14th-place finish in the championship. They demoted him to LCR and hired Pol Espargaro instead.

At the end of 2022, Marquez Jr relocated to Ducati satellite squad Gresini. 12 months later, his older brother took the bombshell decision to leave Honda.

That led to a reunion with Alex at Nadia Padovani’s team. The six-time MotoGP champion won three races and finished third in the championship, five spots ahead of his teammate.

CATEGORYM MarA Mar
Races2020
Wins30
Poles20
Podiums101
Points392173
Position3rd8th
How the Marquez brothers compared at Gresini in 2024

Ducati picked Marc over Jorge Martin for the vacant factory seat alongside Francesco Bagnaia. But Alex has been the brand’s lead rider across the first five races.

Alex Marquez’s manager believes Ducati doors may be ‘open’ if strong form continues

In a testament to the strength of GP24 and his personal progress, Alex Marquez tops the championship ahead of the French Grand Prix. He won his first-ever premier-class race in Jerez last time out.

Now, AS journalist Mela Chercoles has suggested to his manager that a Marquez reunion could be on the cards in Ducati red. Bagnaia, third in the championship, has been outshone by both riders this year.

Jaime Martinez ‘burst out laughing’ when asked if this was his goal for Alex. But he refused to rule it out.

In fact, he thinks the promotion is a possibility if Alex can maintain his level from the early rounds, which will be difficult given that his bike won’t be developed. Bagnaia, who started out at Pramac, would likely be moved into a satellite team in this scenario.

“Well, we’ll see,” Martinez said. “That’s what we’ll see, and for now, all we have to do is stay focused on this positive trend. If the results are there and they hold up, all doors will be open.”

Marc Marquez has already hinted Ducati could change their mind on Alex – worrying for Pecco Bagnaia

As it stands, there’s no firm indication that Bagnaia’s ride is under threat. He’s won a race himself this year and is only 20 points off the championship lead.

But after Luigi Dall’Igna strongly criticised Bagnaia post-Jerez, Martinez’s comments dial up the pressure a little further. The story of this year was supposed to be an intra-Ducati title battle, but it looks unlikely to materialise right now.

While he hasn’t discussed a potential rider swap, Marc Marquez says Ducati could start giving Alex more support if he strengthens his case. As it stands, VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio is the only rider on an up-to-date bike.

Perhaps the Gresini ace could receive a newer spec later in the season. And maybe for next year, he’ll be the satellite rider on a GP26.