BK8 Gresini Racing rider Alex Márquez delivered his best ever start to a MotoGP World Championship season by taking second place behind brother Marc Márquez in the season-opening Grand Prix of Thailand at the Chang International Circuit. Here is all you need to know:
– On pace immediately at the Buriram-based circuit, the younger Márquez brother scored a straight set of second places across the weekend by qualifying in P2, finishing second in Saturday’s Sprint race and again in Sunday’s feature race.
– The 28-year-old made a strong start to the Grand Prix and held his second place grid position for the opening seven laps before passing his brother for the lead of the race. He then held the lead until lap 23 of the 26-lap race, when Marc Márquez made the race-winning pass at Turn 12, but remained firm in the face of pressure from Francesco Bagnaia to hold position.
– Further down the order, Johann Zarco impressed aboard his Castrol Honda LCR in seventh place, bettering Honda’s best result from the 2024 season at the very first attempt, while Brad Binder on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini finished just behind in eighth and ninth places to start their seasons on a positive footing.
– Miguel Oliveira finished in 14th place on his debut for the Prima Pramac Yamaha team and Maverick Viñales was 16th in his first race for Red Bull KTM Tech 3, while home Thai hero Somkiat Chantra finished 18th on his debut in the premier class.
– 2024’s revelation Pedro Acosta had a difficult debut in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing colours. The Spaniard fell at Turn 1 on the fourth lap and, although he was able to remount, finished down in 19th place.
– Missing from the start grid was 2024 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martín, who was unable to make his debut for Aprilia Racing after suffering injuries in two separate crashes during the pre-season. It is hoped that the Spaniard will return to racing at the third round of the championship, the Grand Prix of the Americas, on the last weekend of March.
2025 Thailand Grand Prix result
- Marc Márquez – SPA – Ducati 39m 37.244s
- Alex Márquez – SPA – Ducati +1.732s
- Francesco Bganaia – ITA – Ducati +2.398s
- Franco Morbidelli – ITA – Ducati +5.176s
- Ai Ogura – JPN – Aprilia +7.450s
2025 MotoGP World Championship Standings
- Marc Márquez – SPA – 37 points
- Alex Márquez – SPA – 29
- Francesco Bganaia – ITA – 23
- Franco Morbidelli – ITA – 18
- Ai Ogura – JPN – 17
COMMENTS