Two years in the past, Alex Marquez was combating to avoid wasting his MotoGP profession. Now, he’s combating for the world championship.
The Gresini rider’s breakthrough season features a debut MotoGP win at Jerez, which additionally put him on high of the standings.
Older brother Marc quickly turned the tables, however Gresini staff supervisor Michele Masini is in little doubt that Alex is at present “the second strongest rider on the grid”.
After a rocky begin to MotoGP life at Repsol Honda in 2020, then two bruising seasons at LCR, Alex joined Gresini and Ducati in 2023, immediately reviving his fortunes with two podiums and a pair of Dash wins.
However the #73’s momentum was halted by the GP23 final season, a machine solely new team-mate Marc was capable of grasp, earlier than ‘love at first sight’ with the GP24 ultimately November’s Barcelona take a look at.
“Love at first sight”
Masini defined that whereas Alex made progress on final yr’s GP23, designed round an earlier era of Michelin tyre, it by no means fairly suited his fashion.
“In the beginning of the yr [2024], we had some – let me say – not technical points, as a result of the bike labored very effectively, it was Francesco Bagnaia’s successful bike, but it surely didn’t match rather well with the driving fashion of Alex,” Masini informed Crash.internet at Silverstone.
“However we discovered some options, additionally evaluating and sharing knowledge with Marc and with the opposite Ducati riders, to enhance our efficiency with this package deal.
“Then as quickly as we tried the GP24 for the primary time within the Barcelona take a look at, it was like love at first sight for Alex.
“He was main the winter exams, and I bear in mind within the Thailand take a look at I mentioned just one factor to Alex: ‘You do not have to alter nothing, simply proceed like that as a result of you might have all the pieces in your palms.’”
Alex Marquez, Gresini staff
“Alex is the second strongest rider on the grid”
Regardless of a dream winter, even Masini was shocked to see Alex on high of the world championship, twice up to now, after COTA and Jerez.
“Possibly I didn’t suppose we might lead the world championship, however I did realise that we may struggle each single race for the rostrum,” he mentioned. “And I’ve to say, that on this second, Alex is the second strongest rider on the grid.”
Alex at present splits the manufacturing facility Ducatis of Marc and Francesco Bagnaia on the high of the standings.
He’s additionally simply 5 factors wanting his earlier finest season complete, with two-thirds of the marketing campaign nonetheless to run.
For Masini, the roots of Alex’s present success stretch again to final season.
“It’s actually robust to compete in a staff the place on the opposite facet you might have Marc Marquez, even when he’s your brother. However in the long run, it’s all about tips on how to clear up your issues, inside a storage the place we are able to share all the pieces,” Masini mentioned.
“After the practices, we speak all along with the riders and the engineers. This is likely one of the issues that possibly some factories did not have inside their storage. As a result of typically it’s form of a break up storage. So we use this help to develop.”
Masini added that Alex’s historical past exhibits he thrives with continuity.
“Should you look again at his profession, he at all times arrived on the purpose EXCLUSIVE – GP24 “love at first sight” for Alex Marquez in MotoGP transformation in Moto3 after a few years, in Moto2 after a few years. He’s a rider who wants stability and to be assured with the staff, and this helped him to succeed in success.”
First MotoGP win was “across the nook”
For Gresini, Alex’s debut premier-class victory in Jerez was more and more a matter of when, not if.
“We knew that the primary win was across the nook. It didn’t change his mentality, but it surely possibly gave us all a lift to compete on the highest stage,” Masini mentioned.
“I’ve to say additionally, regardless of the double crash within the Le Mans race, the essential factor on the finish is that we’re at all times quick in each situation.
“We’re at all times close to the highest. So it is all in our palms, what we do.
“Typically everyone could make a mistake. However the essential factor is that our feeling is de facto, actually sturdy in the intervening time.”
Alex Marquez
“Folks must re-evaluate the profession of Alex”
Masini additionally believes it’s time for a reassessment of Alex’s credentials, whereas giving a glimpse of how he operates behind closed doorways.
“I feel many individuals must re-evaluate the sporting profession of Alex. As a result of typically individuals do not keep in mind that he’s a two-time world champion,” Masini mentioned.
“That is the third yr that I’ve labored with Alex and he’s a very type and good boy as a result of he’s at all times fascinated by the others – the mechanics, the staff – and that is so wonderful in a rider,” he mentioned.
“As a result of as a rider, you do not have to be so type, as a result of it is a unusual job. However Alex is the exact opposite of an ‘offended rider’. It is satisfying to work with him.
“But in addition when issues go incorrect, he loses his smile. So it’s simple to grasp what he’s considering and when we have to give him a hug.
“Every thing is clear between us, and the restrict of what we are able to obtain collectively may be very excessive.”