Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez believes Alex Marquez will be his biggest challenger in the 2026 title fight and says he will treat him purely as a rival, not as a brother.
Marc Marquez dominated the 2025 season with the factory Ducati team, claiming his seventh premier class title after winning 11 grands prix and 14 sprint races. The achievement marked his first championship in six years and his ninth overall, equalling Valentino Rossi’s record.
The season was also historic for the Marquez family, as Alex Marquez finished second in the championship. Riding the Gresini Ducati GP24, Alex secured three race victories and ended the year 78 points behind Marc.
Alex Marquez’s strong performances earned him a promotion to a factory Ducati bike for the 2026 season. With both brothers now on equal machinery, Marc Marquez has identified Alex as his primary rival for the upcoming campaign.
Marc explained that Alex’s results deserve full recognition, which is why he wants to refer to him by name rather than as his brother. He believes Alex has proven he can lead teams, fight at the front consistently, and challenge for championships.
While acknowledging the strength of other riders and manufacturers, Marc stressed that Alex will be a major threat from the very beginning of the 2026 season. He added that the highlight of 2025, even more than his own comeback title, was seeing two brothers finish first and second in the world championship.
Marc Marquez missed the final four rounds of the 2025 season after suffering a serious shoulder injury in a collision with Marco Bezzecchi at the Indonesian Grand Prix. He underwent surgery shortly after, and his recovery is progressing well ahead of an expected return at the Sepang test in February.
