Marc wins MotoGP Thailand after intense battle with Alex

Marc Marquez secures victory in Thailand, matching Casey Stoner’s Ducati debut recor.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team rides during the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit on March 2, 2025, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP

By Hayu Andini and Randy Ahmad

Marc Marquez claimed victory in the MotoGP Thailand at the Buriram Circuit after an intense battle with his brother, Alex Marquez. The win marked his first triumph on a Ducati, making him the first Ducati debutant to win his opening race since Casey Stoner at the 2007 Qatar Grand Prix. Additionally, the victory earned Marquez his 112th career podium, equaling Dani Pedrosa’s record.

“It’s a dream to start the season with Ducati like this, in Thailand, with my brother. It’s incredible,” Marquez said. He then celebrated by carrying a young Thai fan dressed in his racing uniform onto his GP25 bike, capturing the moment in parc ferme.

High temperatures test riders in Buriram

The main race took place under extreme conditions, with track temperatures soaring to 36 degrees Celsius. The heat had already forced Fabio Di Giannantonio to retire from the Sprint Race a day earlier.

From the start, Marc Marquez launched aggressively, while a minor collision between Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia at the first corner allowed Ai Ogura to momentarily move up to third place. However, the Gresini Racing rider quickly recovered, reclaiming his position in the podium battle.

Despite stating that he is not chasing the world title this season, Marc Marquez showed no signs of restraint. He swiftly moved back into second place, pushing Bagnaia down to third. Meanwhile, Ogura maintained fourth place, holding off Franco Morbidelli and Jack Miller. The Japanese rookie impressed in his MotoGP debut, showing strong pace against the field.

Pedro Acosta crashes, Mir struggles, and Fernandez shows promise

Aprilia’s Trackhouse Racing squad demonstrated strong performance, with Raul Fernandez overtaking Miller before settling into seventh place.

Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta suffered a dramatic crash at Turn 1, leaving the KTM crew visibly frustrated in the pit lane. Brad Binder, the only remaining KTM factory rider, started from 12th and faced an uphill battle. Acosta, however, managed to remount his bike and continue the race.

Further back, Ogura lost his fourth-place position after Franco Morbidelli executed a decisive overtake. However, the VR46 Racing rider was later penalized with a three-place grid drop for obstructing Bagnaia during practice sessions.

Joan Mir also made an aggressive charge on his Honda RC213V, climbing from ninth to seventh. However, his efforts ended in disappointment after crashing at the final corner while attempting to pass Miller.

Marc Marquez battles Alex Marquez for victory

On lap seven, Marc Marquez encountered a sudden technical issue that briefly slowed him down at Turn 3. The Ducati team was left scrambling to determine whether the problem stemmed from tire grip or bike control. Alex Marquez seized the opportunity, overtaking his older brother to take the lead.

Despite the setback, Marc Marquez refused to give up. He remained within striking distance of Alex, setting up an intense sibling rivalry at the front. Behind them, Bagnaia kept pace in third place, just 0.6 seconds behind.

With four laps remaining, Marc Marquez made his decisive move at the final corner, overtaking Alex and immediately creating a gap. His victory was met with celebrations from the Marquez family, Ducati, and the Gresini Racing team.

Final standings and Ducati’s dominance

Raul Fernandez, who had been running inside the top ten, was forced to retire after his bike struggled to cope with the relentless heat. Meanwhile, Yamaha faced a difficult race, losing one of its representatives, while KTM found some redemption as Brad Binder climbed to eighth position.

Jack Miller fell to 11th place, while Tech3 KTM’s Enea Bastianini secured ninth, finishing ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Marc Marquez ultimately crossed the finish line first, securing his maiden Ducati victory in spectacular fashion. Alex Marquez followed in second, with Francesco Bagnaia completing the podium. The result further solidified Marc Marquez’s status as one of MotoGP’s greatest riders while bolstering Ducati’s title aspirations for the season.