Alex Marquez is moving on after the "disastrous"—as he himself described it—weekend at Le Mans to return to a more familiar track, Barcelona. Marc’s absence weighs heavily, of course, but his brother has no doubts: it’s just a “stumbling block along the way.” An obstacle like many others; after all, “I’ve seen him in worse shape,” Alex admits in the event leading up to the race weekend.
With the #93 out of the picture, all eyes will once again be on Alex. On paper, the Spaniard from the Gresini team is among the favorites—the only Ducati rider so far to have secured a victory in the championship. A strong performance from him would bring a breath of fresh air to Borgo Panigale after the bitter taste left by Le Mans.
"Le Mans was a disaster for us," Alex recounts. "The bike was ready to battle with the Aprilias, but we made too many mistakes at key moments over the weekend. We’re coming to a track that has always suited my riding style, so we’ll try to work well, aiming at least for the podium, scoring points, and trying to get back into the championship fight."
On paper, Alex Marquez is competitive at Montmelò.
“I believe that the ability to find traction here, even in the past, has made the difference. I have some difficulty braking into corners, which is why I can be fast here—it’s a very flowing circuit. Having done so many laps here in the lower categories, however, has certainly helped me learn its secrets.”
The battle between Aprilia and Ducati is on, and there’s always something you wish you had from the rival bike.
“There’s always a trade-off; if you want one thing, you’ll lose something else. I think both bikes are really competitive, and that’s good for the show. Ducati is now at a good level after the win at Jerez; we just need to keep working.”
Marc’s absence following his injury will certainly have an impact on the championship’s outcome.
“First, we’ll have to figure out how long he’ll be out— it could be two races or more; no one knows. It’s too early to say; I think he’ll focus on himself and his physical recovery before worrying about the championship.”
The Marquez brothers’ younger sibling, however, is reassuring; he knows the nine-time world champion well and knows this is just another hurdle in his sporting career.
“I’ve seen him in worse shape. In the end, this was just a bump in the road. As he’s already said himself, the surgery was already scheduled after this GP, and then the foot issue came on top of that. But I’ve seen him in much worse shape on other occasions. Especially during the period between 2020 and 2022, which was really tough. He’s doing well and is motivated; after a blow like that, it’s always tough, but he’s eager to come back.”
Even without Marc on the track, the goal for the weekend remains the same.
"Whether Marc is there or not,it’s the same; his absence doesn’t change anything. If I thought that without Marc my weekend would change, I think that would be a mistake, and I have to keep doing my job. We’ll try to give it our best without thinking about whether Marc is there or not."