After a season in which he has operated mostly in the shadow of his brother Marc, Alex Marquez delivered his most forthright comments of the year after sealing a historic 1-2 in the world championship for the Marquez family.
Among other revelations, he opened up about his nerves during Saturday’s sprint at Sepang, how some parties “undervalue” him and Ducati’s lack of progress with the GP25.
After his brother Marc wrapped up the title in Japan last month, Alex’s second place in the sprint in Malaysia was enough to confirm the first world championship 1-2 for a pair of brothers. But he admitted afterwards that he had battled his emotions.
“I was shaking all over today,” said Alex, who had to recover from briefly losing second place to Pedro Acosta after a mistake at the end of lap one.
“I felt nervous, I felt all the nerves in the world. I was super stiff, I wasn’t riding well… all I was thinking about was securing the runner-up spot. I hope more [opportunities] come and I don’t get so nervous!”
Marc was unable to celebrate in person with his brother in Malaysia, as he is out of action for the rest of the season following his accident at Mandalika earlier this month and is recovering from surgery in Europe. Marc will, however, attend the Valencia finale next month – and Alex is looking forward to racing with the pressure off between now and then.
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Qian Jun / MB Media via Getty Images
“We’re finally here, runners-up and making history with Marc, who’s at home. Now we have three races ahead of us to enjoy, to try new things for next year, but above all to enjoy this great result. You can’t ask for more. Now it’s time to enjoy it without pressure.”
Alex’s run to second place was founded on strong and consistent results early in the season, when his work on the Gresini GP24 Ducati surprised many observers given his previously patchy record in MotoGP.
In terms of an emotional attachment to second place, he has given little away during the season. His willingness to self-criticise as well as admit that Marc is the better rider in most situations, plus the seeming inevitability of the brothers taking the two top spots, has also kept public interest in Alex’s campaign relatively low. But now that the job is done, he has laid his cards on the table.
“I’m very happy, very happy to be runner-up when no one was giving us a chance,” he said. “It’s something I’m very proud of. My eyelashes were trembling.
“I’m very self-critical and I don’t sell myself well, which is why many people somehow undervalue me. I can’t lie to myself; when I don’t ride well, I say so… it’s my character, and I think it’s a virtue that has helped me get here.”
He also paid tribute to his independent team’s efforts with the 2025 bike, directly addressing a topic the Ducati factory doesn’t like to talk about – the GP25’s failure to establish a clear advantage over the GP24.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
“Gresini, since my first year [with the team in 2023], has given me the confidence to follow my path… to push myself further and further to be closer to the top.
“I said it in the pre-season. When you’re in a small team with last year’s bike, you depend a lot on whether the new bike takes a step forward.
“We’ve been very fortunate that Ducati didn’t take a big step forward with the GP25 this year, just an evolution. That’s given us the options and the tools to be very competitive from the start.”
Alex enjoys an outstanding relationship with his brother, whom many are hailing as the greatest MotoGP rider of all time. He reminded the world after the sprint that the benefits of that bond have been crucial during the 2025 campaign.
“A year is very long – there are always bumps, ups and downs. Having Marc so close gives me an extra boost, an advantage in the moments when things aren’t going your way. It gives you peace of mind. We complement each other very well.”
More specifically, noted Alex, his nine-time world champion brother shares a similar penchant for self-criticism – even if this tends to be overlooked in the face of his winning record.
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
“In sports, there are no secrets. If you work hard and follow your instincts, things will work out if you don’t give up. When in doubt, you have to know how to stop, think and turn things around.
“Self-criticism is what all riders should have to make it easier to overcome difficult situations. Marc and I have a lot in common because we’re both very similar in that regard. We always tell each other where we’re failing and where we can improve.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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