Marco Bezzecchi
Alex Marquez has officially sealed the runner-up position in the MotoGP championship. That’s after he followed Francesco Bagnaia home in Saturday’s Malaysian Grand Prix Sprint.
P2 quickly emerged as the main goal for the younger Marquez brother, who realised he couldn’t beat Marc. He’d never previously finished higher than eighth in the standings.
At various points, Marquez was worried by the threat of Bagnaia and Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi. But neither have been able to match his consistency.
Indeed, the Gresini rider’s Sprint podium on Saturday was his 13th this season out of a possible 20. While Bagnaia won, Bezzecchi was only seventh after a poor qualifying.
Marc Marquez ‘couldn’t ask’ for more as Alex Marquez seals family one-two
Marc Marquez is watching the Malaysian Grand Prix from home, having been ruled out for the remainder of the season with the shoulder injury he sustained in Indonesia.
This is the first time in the history of the premier class that two brothers have finished first and second in the table.
Marc instantly posted an Instagram story next to a TV graphic marking Alex’s achievement. He wrote: “And now what? Couldn’t ask for anything else.”
Alex Marquez has been heavily criticised in the past, with some suggesting he’s only on the grid due to his surname. But he’s surely busted that narrative by outperforming some of the sport’s biggest stars.
Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez at the factory Ducati team in 2027?
Alex will ride a Ducati GP26 next year, stepping up to factory-spec equipment. The manufacturer felt they had to reward him for a standout season.
In theory, that puts him in the frame for a 2027 factory ride as a contract cycle comes to an end. But one recent report suggested that Alex isn’t a realistic option for Ducati.
Instead, teammate Fermin Aldeguer – already contracted to the Bologna brand – is more likely to be in Luigi Dall’Igna’s sights. But he must make a leap in his second year, particularly in terms of consistency, to justify that kind of promotion.
Marc could push Ducati to sign Alex, as Honda did in the past. But it’s unlikely that he will be granted that level of influence.
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