Gran Premio de España: Álex Márquez Takes Championship Lead After Stunning Win in Jerez MotoGP 2025
The MotoGP World Championship took an exciting turn at the Circuito de Jerez, known affectionately as “the Cathedral of the South,” with Álex Márquez achieving his first-ever premier class victory, catapulting him to the top of the championship standings. Álex, riding for Ducati Gresini, now holds a slender one-point advantage over his brother, eight-time world champion Marc Márquez.
Márquez Brothers Dominating the Season
The 2025 season is proving to be a thrilling contest dominated by the Márquez brothers. Until now, Marc Márquez has been nearly unbeatable, sweeping all Sprint races and securing three main-event victories in Thailand, Argentina, and Qatar. Only reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia had managed to interrupt this dominance with a crucial win in Austin, Texas, capitalizing on a rare mistake by Marc.
However, the spotlight in Jerez shone brightly on Álex Márquez. Already a proven champion with Moto3 and Moto2 titles, Álex has consistently performed at an exceptional level this season, often overshadowed by his more decorated older brother. His Jerez victory, marked by a blistering fastest lap in practice and a strong second-place finish in the Sprint race, finally elevated him to deserved prominence.
Dramatic Race Sees Marc Lose Crucial Points
The drama intensified when Marc Márquez crashed early in Sunday’s main event, rejoining the race but ultimately finishing a disappointing 12th place. This costly error saw him relinquish the championship lead to his brother by the narrowest of margins.
Pecco Bagnaia, meanwhile, took full advantage of Marc’s misfortune once again, securing a valuable third-place finish in Jerez behind an outstanding ride from Fabio Quartararo. Bagnaia now stands third in the championship, trailing Álex Márquez by 20 points and Marc by 19 points, keeping his title defense alive.
Current Championship Standings After Jerez:
- Álex Márquez (ESP/Ducati Gresini) – 140 points
- Marc Márquez (ESP/Ducati) – 139 points
- Pecco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) – 120 points
- Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Ducati VR46) – 84 points
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati VR46) – 63 points
- Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) – 50 points
- Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda LCR) – 43 points
- Ai Ogura (JAP/Aprilia Trackhouse) – 37 points
- Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Aprilia) – 34 points
- Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM) – 33 points
As the championship moves forward, all eyes will remain on the Márquez brothers, whose sibling rivalry continues to captivate fans around the globe.