Ducati, podiums and grit: why 2025 will cement Alex Marquez beyond Marc's shadow

He already had two world titles on his résumé before his MotoGP debut. Alex Marquez, however, put a real stake in the ground in his career with the stunning 2025 season that has just concluded. Is it because he had a Ducati? Look at who finished at the top besides him and his phenomenal brother Marc. Having a strong relative—here, a very, very close one—can be a curse: in an era of easy comparisons, people tend to undervalue a campaign like the one just completed by the #73 from the Gresini team.

This isn’t about fanbases or “favorites”; the facts speak for the younger Marquez. Not always, but right from the start he was the only one able to keep pace with a rampant Marc Marquez, who wanted to write the grand story. Alex Marquez was there, the second-best Ducati rider behind his brother. Obvious? Not really—just look where other much-anticipated Ducati riders ended up...

This year Alex Marquez wrote his finest chapter since he’s been in MotoGP. Three wins plus 11 Sprint podiums, three wins plus nine GP podiums, across a total of 22 events in the 2025 season. Not to forget a left-hand fracture from a nasty crash at the Dutch GP that affected him for a few rounds. A runner-up finish in the world championship was the only logical outcome in such a brilliant season.

The “problem” for the 2025 MotoGP vice-champion is precisely his brother and the constant comparison. It’s undeniable that Marc is the one with the greater natural talent, while Alex has always had to work even harder to reach his results. The bar set by Marc is extremely high, tough to reach for many (all?) in today’s MotoGP, including Alex.

Despite an absolutely outstanding season, the “little brother” comments never stop. Moto3 Champion 2014, Moto2 Champion 2019: a world crown is a distinction that very few can boast among the countless riders who, from 1949 to today, have passed through the World Championship. And finishing second behind the latest phenomenon of the modern era, likewise, is no accident.