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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Finally, Alex Marquez has stepped out of his brother’s shadow, marking a significant milestone in his career. His victory at the recent Spanish GP was undeniably well-earned, occurring amidst dramatic circumstances, as his sibling, Marc, encountered mishap during the race.
Throughout Friday’s practice sessions, the younger Marquez displayed promising form, topping the timesheets despite experiencing two falls. This performance set the stage for what was to come, though he faced some challenges on Saturday, ultimately securing a second-place finish behind Marc in the sprint. By race day, however, the GP24 was clearly up to the task.
When Marc crashed out, Alex was in third place, with two world champions still ahead of him—an uphill battle on a track not renowned for passes. Nevertheless, he confidently maneuvered past Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati and Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha, solidifying his first grand prix win.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
For Marc Marquez, a race victory this weekend carries a bittersweet undertone, as it reflects his exceptionally high expectations of himself. His performances at Jerez revealed that he was not at his peak, a fact underscored by a disappointing qualification and the failure to secure his usual pole position.
While he found a measure of redemption in the sprint, Sunday proved to be a psychological challenge. Starting poorly and losing a close battle with team-mate Bagnaia were setbacks, but the biggest blow came when he crashed just three laps in, unable to articulate the cause of the misstep.
Adding insult to injury, Marc lost his championship lead to Alex by just a single point, a shift reminiscent of their Texas weekend. Therefore, the celebrations will primarily revolve around Alex’s triumph, rather than his own achievements.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Fabio Quartararo’s reputation within the paddock has surged once again after a commendable performance at the Spanish GP. Determined to move past previous frustrations with the Yamaha M1, he embraced a new approach that appeared to pay dividends.
Following a strong performance that secured pole position—marking a rarity for non-Ducati bikes—Quartaro led the sprint for a period before a valiant attempt to engage with Marc resulted in his fall. However, he maintained a positive outlook and took full advantage of Marc’s misfortunes during the race.
Holding off Bagnaia, Quartararo clinched second place, achieving Yamaha’s first podium finish since 2023 in Indonesia.
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
In contrast, Alex Rins faced a tumultuous weekend. While Quartararo thrived, Rins struggled to keep pace, experiencing a severe downswing in form. A crash during Free Practice 2 left him set back, resulting in a last-place qualification.
Despite the odds, Rins completed both races but finished a modest 15th in the sprint. His Sunday outing ended closely behind Marc Marquez, who recovered from his earlier crash to eclipse Rins, emphasizing the uphill battle he faces this season.
Winner: Maverick Vinales
Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
Maverick Vinales has firmly established himself as a leading contender within the KTM team, consistently outperforming expectations. After a strong showing in Qatar, Jerez further solidified his status, narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish behind Bagnaia.
His growing confidence and performance have begun to garner respect from critics, indicating that he poses a genuine threat moving forward.
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Joan Mir’s season has been plagued by accidents, with a total of six falls across five weekends. His consistency has faltered, leading to significant point losses. Despite running competitively in sixth position during the Spanish GP, he fell victim to a collision caused by another rider’s miscalculation.
Mir remains optimistic about the potential of the Honda bike, though his ability to finish races poses a critical area for improvement. His resilience will be crucial in overcoming this tough stretch.
Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing
Ai Ogura has been Aprilia’s bright spot amid challenging beginnings in the 2025 season. Although struggling in Spain, Ogura has shown commitment and has maintained a perfect record of finishing races.
His steady points accumulation reflects his potential for growth, even in the face of adversity.
Loser: Pedro Acosta
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Pedro Acosta’s remarkable ascent seems to have hit a snag as he grapples with recent performances. Following a robust start to the season, he has been struggling through a concerning dip in form, illustrated by subpar qualifications and race finishes.
During the Jerez weekend, Acosta failed to break into the top positions, ending the sprint in 10th and finishing 7th on Sunday. This decline comes against the backdrop of Vinales’ impressive form, raising questions about Acosta’s ability to respond to the mounting pressure.
The competitive landscape is shifting, and all eyes will be on how Acosta adapts to reclaim his status as a top contender.
Source
www.motorsport.com