Marc Marquez’s rivals warned after dominant MotoGP opener

Marc Marquez’s Thailand GP performance proves he is the man to beat in 2025.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team races during the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram on March 2, 2025. Photo by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Marc Marquez’s MotoGP rivals have been warned that they should fear his dominance after a breathtaking opening round at the Thailand Grand Prix. The eight-time world champion, making his debut for Ducati’s factory team, delivered a statement performance by securing pole position, winning the sprint race, and dominating the grand prix in Buriram.

With this victory, Marquez immediately leads the championship standings, proving that his move to the most competitive bike on the grid has made him an even more formidable opponent. Many now believe MotoGP’s most successful rider has the ideal machinery to reclaim the title in 2025.

His closest competitor during Sunday’s grand prix was none other than his brother, Alex Marquez, who finished second, adding an intriguing dynamic to the season ahead.

Experts warn rivals about Marquez’s form

MotoGP analyst Peter McLaren believes Marc Marquez’s early dominance should be a major concern for his competitors. Speaking on the Crash MotoGP podcast, McLaren highlighted the advantage Marquez now holds.

“That plays into Marc’s hands,” McLaren said. “If there’s anybody he’d like to be fighting with… if there’s anybody Marc wants between himself and Pecco, it’s his brother!”

McLaren also noted that Marquez never appeared to be riding at his absolute limit throughout the weekend, suggesting he still has more speed in reserve.

“We never saw Marc pushing the limit of the bike! There was one moment in Saturday practice when he tried a different setup, then they realised, ‘we don’t need to push the limit.’

“Pecco [Bagnaia] said ‘Marc was playing with us,’ and that’s how a lot of people saw it. He rode at the pace needed to win, and that’s it.

“Take Marc out of the equation, and we have an even fight between the satellite Ducatis. But Marc looks a step ahead of everybody.”

Marquez’s confidence reaches new levels

Following his dominant display in Thailand, Marquez admitted that he felt like the best version of himself since 2020, the year his injury struggles began. This revelation is particularly worrying for his opponents.

MotoGP journalist Lewis Duncan echoed these concerns, emphasizing that Marquez’s mindset appears stronger than in recent years.

“It says a lot about where he’s at, in his head, now,” Duncan said.

“For the last few years, we have seen a rider who was reserved about his potential after the injury. He never spoke about 2020 as a year where he could have kicked on.

“It should scare some of his rivals.

“If that’s the mindset he’s in, if that’s the form he’s feeling, on a bike that is infinitely better than the Honda ever was, you look at his rivals and think, ‘how could they possibly even think about getting on level terms with him?’”

Bagnaia already on the back foot

Reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia, who was expected to be Marquez’s main rival this season, struggled throughout the weekend in Thailand. The early signs indicate that catching up to Marquez will be a major challenge.

“The practice analysis after Friday showed there was under two-tenths between them,” Duncan noted.

“In theory, Pecco should have been closer in the sprint and the grand prix.

“To be that far off, straight away—he was a second behind second place after three or four laps—is a massive amount just to get ahead of Alex Marquez!

“It’s maybe worse than we realised in the winter.

“The challenge facing everyone is a lot, lot harder.

“I didn’t think Pecco could win [in Thailand], but he needed to be in the ballpark. But he starts even further back than we thought possible. That’s where the real concern will be.”

A nightmare scenario for Marquez’s rivals

Adding to the concerns for the rest of the grid, the upcoming rounds of the championship could further strengthen Marquez’s grip on the title race.

The second MotoGP round takes place in Argentina from March 14-16, a track where Marquez has traditionally excelled. Following that, the championship moves to the Circuit of the Americas, another of Marquez’s most successful venues.

If his competitors were hoping for a chance to close the gap, the calendar is not in their favor. Given Marquez’s early form and the circuits ahead, the MotoGP grid may already be facing an uphill battle to stop him from running away with the 2025 championship.