Alex Marquez’s impressive form in the 2025 MotoGP season has sparked a heated debate over whether he deserves a factory Ducati seat. Despite riding a year-old GP23 for Gresini Racing, the younger Marquez now leads the championship standings following his commanding win at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
With his brother Marc and Pecco Bagnaia contracted to the factory Ducati team until the end of next year, speculation is mounting about Alex’s future. TNT Sports’ Suzi Perry posed the burning question:
“At what point, because this paddock is brutal, do people start to say: maybe Alex should be in the full factory team alongside his brother Marc?”
MotoGP analyst Michael Laverty responded:
“Pecco is still not happy… He can perhaps accept Marc stealing the spotlight as an eight-time world champion, but for Alex to do it? That’s a bigger knife in the side for Pecco’s career.”
Bagnaia, who struggled during the Jerez test and finished 19th fastest, is currently 20 points behind Alex. He tested parts previously used by Marc but removed them earlier in the season due to discomfort.
Laverty added:
“Alex has stepped out of Marc’s shadow this year. He has flourished as the team leader at Gresini, supported by a strong crew and a rookie teammate in Fermin Aldeguer. His aggressive braking and consistent performances are paying off.”
Despite riding older equipment, Alex is outperforming not only Bagnaia but also the VR46 riders and other GP24-equipped competitors. Sylvain Guintoli praised Alex’s racecraft, stating:
“He’s gutsy, takes risks, and goes for gaps. The race he did at Jerez was brilliant—he went hard early and showed more pace than Bagnaia.”
With five rounds complete, the MotoGP world is watching closely to see if Ducati will reward Alex Marquez’s rise with a factory ride in 2026.
