Alex Marquez does not know ‘why’ people still say one thing about him fighting Marc Marquez for the MotoGP title

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Alex Marquez heads to the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Mugello as the biggest title rival to Ducati rider Marc Marquez, with the Gresini pilot 32 points shy after eight rounds.

It is the first time in the younger Marquez brother’s career that he is fighting for the premier class crown. Alex Marquez enjoyed his best season in MotoGP yet in 2024 as the 29-year-old came eighth in the standings. He also set his previous-best points tally in 2023 with 177.

So, the 2025 MotoGP season is already the Spaniard’s best term so far with 201 points, and also returned his first Grand Prix win. Alex Marquez won his first MotoGP race at Jerez after seeing Marc Marquez crash, with the Gresini ace making full use of riding last year’s Ducati.

Riding the Ducati GP24 has allowed the Gresini star to score a career single-season best five Grand Prix podiums, and eight Sprint podiums, through the first eight rounds. Alex Marquez won the Silverstone Sprint, and he has finished second to Marc Marquez in the other seven.

Alex Marquez doesn’t get ‘why’ people still think he’s a ‘surprise’ 2025 MotoGP title contender

Yet despite Alex Marquez having a stronger season so far ahead of the Italian GP than works Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, the Gresini racer still feels people view him as the ‘surprise’ contender for the 2025 MotoGP title. Bagnaia is third in the standings with only 140 points.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Marquez from net worth to career stats

But the 2014 Moto3 and 2019 Moto2 champion welcomes his underdog tag. Marquez also believes Gresini need to savour every moment of their 2025 MotoGP title tilt as the Faenza natives are not used to winning Grands Prix, let alone fighting for the premier class crown.

Marquez said, via quotes by AS: “I prefer to be the surprise. For some people, I am. I don’t know why, but for some I am. So, yes, it seems that having a 61-point lead over third place isn’t enough to be in the fight.

“It’s also something new for us. So, we have to enjoy it, because that’s the situation. You don’t have it every year with a bike from last year, you know.”

Alex Marquez is at least giving Francesco Bagnaia problems, even if people doubt his title threat

The 2025 MotoGP season is Gresini’s 25th term in the premier class, but Marquez’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix was only their 22nd win through 464 race entries thus far. Jerez was also Marquez’s 94th race since he debuted in MotoGP next to Marc at Honda in 2020.

But since Alex endured the troubles of helping Honda to deal with Marc Marquez’s career-threatening injury in 2020, riding the RC213V at LCR in 2021 and 2022, and trying to prove himself at Gresini since 2023, the 29-year-old is showing he is able to impact the title race.

Even Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has told Bagnaia he must focus on Alex Marquez before he can pursue Marc for the MotoGP title this year. Alex has won just as many Grands Prix as the 2022 and 2023 champion, who has also not finished higher than third in a Sprint.