Take a look through motorsport history, and you’ll find a long list of talented athletes who share a last name. Judging by the performance of the Marquez brothers so far this season, their name will be added to the list that includes the Schumachers, the Villeneuves, and the Scheckters, along with the many other famous siblings from the sport’s history.
This year’s MotoGP has been a season to remember for both the Marquez brothers, with elder brother Marc proving once again why he’s one of the best to ever compete, and relative newcomer Alex showing that he’s more than capable of holding his own at this level — and could perhaps even be a future championship winner, especially if he keeps going after Marc retires.
Marc and Alex Marquez Make a Dream Start
For any normal family, having any member appear on the podium in a MotoGP race would be big news. But the Marquez clan is not a normal family. Blessed with arguably the greatest MotoGP rider of all time, they would have expected that Marc would be on the podium at the Thailand GP, but to have Alex also up there in second place? It’s the first time in the sport’s history where brothers have finished in the one-two position, and likely won’t be the last.
Alex Marquez: On His Way to Stardom?
Much has rightly been written about Marc Marquez, who continually proves that he’s in a league of his own. Less has been written about Alex Marquez, who until recently has been largely written about in the context of his illustrious brother.
But this season has changed that. He claimed his first-ever MotoGP victory at the Spanish Grand Prix and has also found himself on the podium in seven other races so far. For a brief period, he was even ahead of his brother Marc in the Championship lead. While people have long known that Alex was a talented rider, few thought he was capable of reaching these heights.
His growth in stature has been reflected by his shortening betting odds, which continually have him as the second favourite after, of course, his brother. Even his current Championship winner odds, which are much longer than his brothers’ but still within the realms of possibility, suggest that bookmakers are taking him seriously. Indeed, some fans are even using the betting offer they can get with Oddschecker to back Alex with free bets after they’ve backed Marc with their initial deposit.
Marc is currently on course to not only win the 2025 MotoGP Championship but to do so having procured one of the best all-time MotoGP seasons, and yet, Alex’s performances have shown enough to suggest that he’ll be there if Marc experiences an injury.
Is Alex Aiding His Brother’s Victories?
If there’s a caveat to Marc’s seemingly legendary season, it’s the accusation that Alex may have made things “too easy” for his older brother. Some commentators have suggested that Alex may have a psychological reluctance to really challenge his brother on the track, which in essence helps to make Marc’s job easier. While there’s no suggestion that Alex is intentionally supporting his brother’s motorcycle victories, by demonstrating a lack of real belief that he can overcome his brother, he’s essentially forfeiting his ability to attack Marc in the same way that he did against, say, Bagnaia in the Italian Grand Prix. It’s unlikely to dampen the celebrations or the broader appreciation for what Marc has achieved, but there will be some who put an asterisk next to Marc Marquez’s championship title.
A Sibling Sport’s Story For the Ages
This has been a spellbinding MotoGP season for the Marquez brothers, and there’s every chance that it’s not the last time we’ll be writing about their joint success on the track. For the family, what will be most heartwarming of all is how, despite their competitiveness, the brothers’ strong bond remains intact despite how competitive things become on the track.
