Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez believes the hardest moments of his MotoGP career ultimately shaped him more than his breakthrough 2025 season.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a standout 2025 campaign, claiming his first MotoGP victory and adding two more grand prix wins aboard a year-old Ducati. He consistently challenged eventual champion Marc Marquez, especially in the first half of the season, and finished runner-up in the world championship.
However, Alex Marquez says the lessons he took from a far more difficult 2024 season were even more important to his development. Last year, adapting to the GP23 proved challenging, and he managed just a single podium across the campaign.
Reflecting on his progress, Marquez explained that the struggles forced him to rethink his approach and improve areas of weakness that later paid dividends on more competitive machinery.
He said the biggest step forward actually came during the season when results were scarce, as suffering pushed him to work daily on adapting his riding style and becoming more complete as a rider. While 2025 delivered stronger results and consistency at the front, he believes the foundation for that success was built the year before.
Marquez’s performances on satellite Ducati machinery in 2025 were strong enough to earn him a promotion to full factory-spec equipment for the following season. He finished well clear of most of the field, ending the year comfortably ahead of riders such as Marco Bezzecchi and Pecco Bagnaia.
Gresini Ducati also enjoyed a highly successful year overall, securing four grand prix victories, including a maiden MotoGP win for rookie Fermin Aldeguer at the Indonesian Grand Prix.
