Alex Marquez scored a maiden MotoGP victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, taking the championship lead after a shocking crash from his brother, Marc Marquez, early in the race. This momentous victory unfolded in front of a capacity crowd at Jerez, where Alex made his debut as a factory Honda rider back in 2020. After five long years, he finally broke his winless streak, exemplifying both resilience and determination against the odds.
Consistently finishing in second place throughout the 2025 season, Alex seized the opportunity for victory on lap three of 25 when the factory Ducati rider, Marc Marquez, crashed out while positioned third in the race. As the race progressed, Alex overtook Pecco Bagnaia on the fourth lap, demonstrating exceptional skill and focus, quickly pulling away from the Italian competitor.
By the start of lap 11, Alex Marquez took the lead, establishing a significant gap from the rest of the field. He eased away toward the finish line, marking a triumphant moment as MotoGP’s newest winner. This victory also made Alex Marquez the first rider from Gresini Racing to achieve a win since Marc Marquez’s success at Phillip Island last year.
With this achievement, Alex Marquez ascended to the top of the championship standings, now holding a narrow one-point lead over Marc Marquez, who managed to recover to finish in 12th place on a damaged GP25. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo led for the initial 10 laps of the race, ultimately securing second place for his first podium finish since the Indonesian Grand Prix in 2023.
Bagnaia completed the podium, finding himself 20 points off the championship lead. At the race’s outset, Quartararo made a brilliant launch from pole position, seizing control quickly, while Marc Marquez struggled with his start, dropping to third by Turn 1 following a subpar performance.
In an intense battle, the factory Ducati duo, Marc and Bagnaia, faced a critical moment at Turn 6 when Alex Marquez nearly went off track, narrowly avoiding a collision that could have ended their races. Later, Marc attempted an aggressive move on his teammate Bagnaia at Turn 7, leading to a nail-biting exchange as they vied for position through several corners, but Bagnaia managed to hold his ground, maintaining second place while Quartararo continued to lead.
Tragedy struck for Marc Marquez on lap three when he crashed at Turn 8, causing an abrupt end to his pursuit for victory. After an early scare, Alex Marquez found himself in fifth place but quickly moved up to second, executing a clean overtake on Bagnaia into the final corner on lap four. This maneuver marked the beginning of his relentless chase after Quartararo.
The decisive moment came at Turn 1 on lap 11, where Alex Marquez’s skillful move propelled him to the front of the race. Quartararo was unable to counter this strategic take-over, and Alex immediately began to extend his lead to almost a second. By the time he crossed the finish line, he boasted a comfortable advantage of 1.561 seconds.
Throughout the remainder of the race, Quartararo faced relentless pressure from Bagnaia, who fought hard to close the gap. However, Quartararo managed to fend off the challenges, finishing just 0.656 seconds ahead of the factory Ducati rider. While Tech3 KTM’s Maverick Vinales initially seemed poised to join the podium battle, he ultimately finished fourth, unable to break through.
In the closing laps, the standings remained consistent, with Alex Marquez’s victory affirming his potential as a rider while also highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Marc Marquez’s competitive future. As Marc’s damaging crash reverberates throughout the racing community, the implications for both brothers and their teams remain substantial.
This exciting race not only underscored the unpredictable nature of MotoGP but also marked a significant milestone for Alex Marquez, setting the stage for his future as a serious contender in the championship. The impact of this race will undoubtedly influence strategies and performances in the upcoming races.
