Marc Marquez says the next Andrea Dovizioso is already emerging in MotoGP

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Marc Marquez battled Andrea Dovizioso to the MotoGP title for three straight seasons between 2017 and 2019. On all three occasions, he prevailed.

Like Marquez, Dovizioso made his MotoGP debut on Honda machinery. He rode for satellite squad Scot Racing in 2008, then stepped up to the factory team, winning his first Grand Prix as a sophomore rider.

The Italian left at the end of 2011, spending a single year at Yamaha before settling at Ducati. His first four seasons with the Borgo Panigale outfit delivered limited success, but he became a contender in 2017.

Dovizioso enjoyed his best-ever season with six wins, but it wasn’t enough to beat Marquez, who finished just under 40 points clear. The gap between the top two grew to 76 points the year after, and an enormous 151 in 2019.

With Jorge Lorenzo struggling at Ducati and Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha no longer the force they once were, Dovizioso unsuccessfully tried to dethrone the Marquez/Honda dynasty.

Marc Marquez sees similarities between Alex Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso

Marquez is now firmly on course for his first title since that 2019 triumph. He enters the Dutch TT weekend 40 points clear of brother Alex Marquez at the top of the standings.

And speaking to outlets including Motorsport Espana on media day, he drew a comparison between Alex and Dovizioso. Both were relatively late bloomers in the premier class.

Indeed, Alex only won his first Grand Prix in Jerez at the end of April, nearly 100 races into his career. Consistency has been his biggest strength this year, with the Gresini rider scoring six podiums in nine Grands Prix.

“Having my brother as a rival gives me a similar feeling to that of Andrea Dovizioso,” he said. “At first, you wait a bit, but he’s always there. He’s very consistent and has strengths that are different from mine.”

Marc Marquez is still hearing disrespectful questions about his brother Alex

The two Marquez brothers have cooperated this season to maintain their position at the top of the championship. But there doesn’t appear to be much anger among their rivals.

Indeed, Francesco Bagnaia admits that he doesn’t race his fellow VR46 academy graduates as hard as other riders. Alex has been accused of making life too easy for Marc at times when they go wheel-to-wheel.

Finishing second in the championship would be a significant achievement for the younger brother, who’s never previously placed higher than eighth. With injuries an ever-present possibility in MotoGP, the title can’t be ruled out either.

And yet, Marquez is still facing disrespectful questions over whether he sees the #73 bike as a real threat or a pretender. Alex has outperformed factory star Bagnaia and the rest of Ducati’s satellite contingent this season.