Alex Marquez is coming off a big season, having finished second behind his brother Marc in the MotoGP championship standings. Heading into the new campaign, he feels more confident than ever about his chances of claiming a title of his own.
From the opening race last season, it was clear that the Marquez brothers would be the story to watch. They held onto those spots all year, with Marc going on to claim his seventh world title and Alex finishing as runner-up—his best result yet.
The two stayed close throughout the season, both on and off the track. They trained together often, and Marc has spoken about how important Alex was to his routine during the intense stretches of last year’s schedule.
“There are three or four guys I train with most often but sometimes we’re 10 or 12,” said Marc.
Alex Marquez shares thoughts on whether he’s ready to challenge for the MotoGP title this season
Speaking to reporters after the final pre-season test in Buriram, Marquez was asked how his mindset going into this year compares to last season.
The Gresini rider spoke about how finishing as runner-up has boosted his confidence, making him feel more prepared to aim for the championship.
“I don’t feel any pressure, I feel more confident. I know I’ll find myself in a situation I’ve been in before,” he told Motosan.
“Last year wasn’t like that; everything was completely new to me. It’s not normal to go from eighth place last season to starting the year trying to fight for the title.”
“I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t have the level or experience in MotoGP to handle those situations well, and I think I paid the price at a certain point in the season.”
Marquez continued: “Now I feel more prepared than last year. The season is very long, and every detail will be important to manage it properly.”
Neil Hodgson recently called Alex Marc’s top challenger for next season from his view in the commentary box during what was a breakthrough campaign and considers him one of MotoGP’s most underrated riders right now.
Alex Marquez rumoured to have signed with KTM for the 2027 MotoGP season
According to reports out of Spain, Alex Marquez is set to join KTM for the 2027 season, taking over from Pedro Acosta, even though he has started to establish himself within the Italian team.
Acosta is expected to make the switch from KTM to Ducati’s factory team next year, while Maverick Vinales is likely to be paired with Marquez at KTM.
This move would be quite a shift for the 29-year-old, particularly given the current performance gap between Ducati and KTM bikes.
With new technical regulations on the way next year that could reshape the competitive landscape, it’s still unclear which manufacturer will come out ahead.
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