Marc Marquez: “Gresini was more important for Alex than for me”

MotoGP World Champion Marc Márquez is convinced that the Gresini team was even more significant for his brother Alex’s career than it was for his own. At first glance, this statement seems contradictory. After all, the Gresini team marked a turning point in Marc Márquez’s MotoGP career.

At the end of 2023, the eight-time world champion turned down a lucrative contract with Honda, terminated his agreement with HRC early and moved to Gresini for the 2024 season. There, he was given a Ducati from the previous year – and the chance to rebuild his career. The risk paid off: after just one year, he moved to the Ducati factory team, with whom Marquez won the world championship title in 2025.

When Marc ended his partnership with Honda, the Spaniard looked back on two winless years marked by injuries and inferior equipment. Marc Marquez finished his final season as a Honda rider in 14th place in the World Championship, with just one podium finish at HRC’s home race in Motegi. The low point of the 2023 season was the race weekend at the Sachsenring, when Marc Marquez suffered five crashes and withdrew from the Grand Prix.

Gresini opened the door to Lenovo-Ducati

At Gresini, Marc Marquez rediscovered his former form during the 2024 MotoGP season, winning three Grands Prix and finishing third in the World Championship. Based on his data, Ducati could see just how good number 93 still is. Luigi Dall’Igna brought Marc into the Lenovo team. Nevertheless, Marc is convinced that Gresini was even more significant for his younger brother Alex.

“Of course, it was a very important team for the Marquez family,” explained Marc. “Naturally, every stage of a career is important. My time at Repsol-Honda was important, but so was my time at Gresini. My time now at Ducati is also important.”

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Ausgezeichnetes Brüderpaar: Marc und Alex Marquez

Foto: Gold and Goose

The Spaniard explains why he nevertheless mentions Alex by referring to his starting position. After three difficult years on the Honda RC213V, the two-time world champion’s MotoGP career was hanging in the balance at the end of 2022. The move to Gresini ultimately proved to be a turning point. Alex continued to develop on the Ducati and even became runner-up in the world championship in 2025. He will move to KTM as a factory rider for the coming season.

“Gresini was more important for Alex than for me,” emphasised Marc. “Otherwise, he would have been out of MotoGP. He put his faith in Gresini and Gresini put his faith in him. Then he became runner-up in the world championship. Next year, he’ll be racing for a MotoGP works team again.”

A fresh start at Gresini saved both Marquez brothers

Marc himself, however, sees his time at Gresini more as a crucial stepping stone. After his difficult years with Honda, the team offered him exactly the environment he needed to regain his former strength.

“Alex was also the reason why I moved to Gresini,” revealed the Ducati star. “I found the right atmosphere there and was given the right bike to fight my way back to the top.”

As surprising as Marquez’s statement may sound at first, his reasoning is entirely understandable. Whilst Gresini served as a springboard for him back to the top and ultimately into the Ducati works team, the Faenza-based team may well have saved Alex’s MotoGP career altogether.