MotoGP 2025: Alex halts Marc’s title charge

Rather than a race of outright speed, the first half of the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunya was a test of tyre and grip management. And rather than Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) claiming all the spoils, it was his brother Alex (Gresini Ducati) who showed superior pace through practice and qualifying on the notoriously slippery Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. And he needed to. After securing just his second premier-class pole position ahead of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) and Marc on Saturday morning, the younger Marquez required a strong result to prevent Marc from having the chance to wrap up the world title next time out in Misano.

From pole, everything went to plan in the Sprint as the Gresini rider built an unassailable lead over Marc and Quartararo across the 12-lap race. But it ended in heartbreak for the number 73 when he crashed at Turn 10 with four laps to go, handing Marc yet another victory and, as it stood, a shot at sealing the title in Italy. Ducati also secured the 2025 Constructors World Championship in the Sprint, underlining their season-long dominance.

Even though Marc grabbed the holeshot and led the opening handful of laps of the 24-lap Spanish Grand Prix, Alex passed the factory Ducati rider into Turn 1 at the start of lap four and held firm at the front. Not only did it deliver just his second premier-class grand prix victory, it was enough to postpone any title celebrations until at least the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi at the end of the month.

Aside from the injured Maverick Viñales, KTM riders also showed excellent pace all weekend. Red Bull KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder topped the opening two sessions and later fought Tech3 KTM’s Enea Bastianini for fourth in the Sprint. Acosta qualified fifth in the middle of row two, but it was Bastianini who ultimately joined the Marquez brothers on the podium in Sunday’s GP, his first since moving to the Austrian brand. The timing could not have been better either. His podium came on the same weekend Tech3 announced its acquisition by former Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner, who was trackside for the celebrations.

For the first 10 laps it looked like KTM glory was heading Acosta’s way, the young Spaniard in third appearing to have the measure of Marc and Alex. The only rider to gamble on the soft rear tyre, he held off Bastianini until a bold move under brakes into Turn 1 at the start of lap 11 signalled the beginning of tyre troubles. Teammate Binder, who was the quickest rider on circuit on lap five, fell victim to the slippery surface and joined the DNF list with big names including Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda).

Now in third, Bastianini was 0.6 seconds behind Marc. Despite his reputation for tyre management, the Italian admitted in Parc Fermé that he had to settle, saying “it was impossible for me to catch those two.” With five laps to go, both Alex and Marc were running a full second per lap quicker than anyone else.

Quartararo put up a gallant fight on his factory Yamaha. His fifth-place finish in the GP, paired with second in the Sprint from a rare front-row start, marked a strong weekend. Rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Racing) was the top Aprilia in sixth after battling with Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) late in the race. Bagnaia, who recovered from 21st on the grid to seventh at the flag after passing Luca Marini (HRC) on the last lap, continues to endure a tough season. He finished 14th in the Sprint and seventh in the GP, where seven riders crashed out.

Miguel Oliveira was ninth on the same weekend he learned his services would not be required at Prima Pramac Yamaha from 2026 onwards, finishing ahead of reigning world champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) in 10th. Aussie Jack Miller, who will partner WorldSBK star Toprak Razgatlioglu at the satellite Yamaha team next year, finished 14th after qualifying in the same position.

At the front, Alex crossed the line 1.7 seconds clear of Marc, who had a late moment while trying to chase down his younger brother, cutting the gap in the standings to 182 points. Marc needed a 185-point buffer to have a chance at sealing the title at Misano, but with Marc on 487 and Alex on 305, the celebrations are delayed at least a fortnight. Bagnaia (237) has some breathing space in third after Bezzecchi (197) suffered two DNFs. Acosta sits fifth on 183, while Jack Miller remains 17th with 54 points. The series now heads to Misano, with practice beginning Friday 12 September.