Marc Marquez confirmed that during the Aragon MotoGP race, his Ducati bike was exactly the same as the one ridden by his brother Alex Marquez. This revelation centers on the ongoing debate about upgrades given to factory and satellite riders in Ducati’s MotoGP lineup, highlighting the shared equipment between the Marquez brothers despite their differing team statuses.
While Alex Marquez has accepted Ducati’s stance on limiting upgrades for his bike, Marc has been more vocal about the equality of their machines during the Aragon race weekend. Marc’s comments bring clarity to the technical parity he experienced with his brother’s bike, despite differences in team support.
Background on Ducati GP23 and GP24 Upgrades
Marc debuted on a Ducati GP23 last season with the Gresini team, alongside Alex, who races for the satellite outfit. During the following season, factory riders such as Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martín, and Franco Morbidelli received various upgrades on the newer GP24 model. However, the Marquez brothers mostly received only minor components, which they referred to as “some candy.”
This year, Marc has risen to a leading position at the Ducati factory team and currently tops the standings with four victories, having replaced Bastianini. In contrast, Alex remains a satellite rider, lagging behind in championship points, a factor influencing the upgrade distribution between them.
Testing Sessions Highlight the Upgrade Gap
During the Jerez test on April 28, Alex Marquez did not get any new parts for his GP24 bike. At the official tests held at Motorland, he only participated in the morning to trial a new radio system intended for next season. With no fresh components available, Alex’s role was limited to testing communication tools rather than mechanical improvements.
Alex expressed a nuanced view on the upgrade policy, explaining his understanding of Ducati’s approach based on past experiences.
Last year I was in the opposite situation [not fighting to win] and I thought it was fair,
—Alex Marquez, MotoGP Rider
Maybe now I see it as less fair,
he added with a smile.
Last year, Marc didn’t get more support from Ducati either, even with 200 more points than me. I’ve been on both sides of it, so I fully understand that policy.
—Alex Marquez, MotoGP Rider
Shared Upgrade Policy and Its Impact
Ducati’s policy is to supply identical upgrades to all riders using the same bike model, ensuring parity within technical limits. Despite running the same hardware, Alex insists that upgrades wouldn’t have significantly altered their performance gap during races.
I know that Marc, with my bike, would still have been faster than me this weekend,
—Alex Marquez, MotoGP Rider
I know how fast Marc is, and that doesn’t frustrate me; on the contrary, it motivates me.
—Alex Marquez, MotoGP Rider
Marc Marquez Addresses Equipment Equality and Race Strategy
Responding to questions about the significance of racing with identical bikes against his brother Alex, Marc emphasized that such decisions are not within the riders‘ control. He highlighted that last year he was also subject to Ducati’s decisions on parts distribution.
That’s not something I decide, last year I was in that situation and you get what Ducati decides to give you,
—Marc Marquez, Ducati Team Rider
For now, what we’re trying to do in the factory Ducati team is test things to increase that gap.
—Marc Marquez, Ducati Team Rider
Controversy Over the Aragon Race Setup
Marc shared a revealing insight about the Aragon race weekend, stating that although Ducati has new parts for the GP24, these components had not yet been fully optimized, resulting in both brothers riding bikes with matching specifications during the race.
On Sunday during the race [at Aragon], we were riding a bike identical to Alex’s, because the new parts still need to be fully set up,
—Marc Marquez, Ducati Team Rider
Of course, he’s my brother and I wish him the best, but that’s not something I can decide.
—Marc Marquez, Ducati Team Rider
Significance of Marc Marquez’s Win at Aragon
Marc Marquez’s victory at Aragon marked a return to form for Ducati after wins by Honda and Aprilia in the previous two rounds. This win was crucial for reaffirming Ducati’s competitive edge and for Marc’s championship campaign.
The parity in machinery between the Marquez brothers at Aragon underscores the complexities in Ducati’s upgrade distribution and how team status affects development opportunities. The focus for the Ducati factory team remains solidifying Marc’s advantage while maintaining overall performance improvements.
