Marc Marquez’s 'skill and talent' on show in winning overtake over brother Alex at Grand Prix Argentina - Neil Hodgson
Published 16/03/2025 at 22:05 GMT
It was not an easy day at the office for Marc Marquez at Grand Prix Argentina on Sunday, but his race-winning pass of his brother Alex on Lap 21 left a lasting impression on Neil Hodgson, who broke down the manoeuvre for TNT Sports. According to Hodgson, it was "man and machine working perfectly". Watch and stream the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
‘Man and machine working perfectly’ - Hodgson’s analysis of Marc Marquez’s winning overtake
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marc Marquez was made to work hard for victory at Grand Prix Argentina, but his race-winning pass of his brother was "man and machine working perfectly", according to Neil Hodgson.
Heading into the Grand Prix in Argentina, Marquez was hot favourite to follow up his win in Thailand a fortnight earlier.
He got off the line in front, but was passed by his brother Alex on Lap 4 and did not look comfortable on his Ducati.
However, he kept in the hunt and found pace towards the end of the race, allowing him to pull off an overtake with four laps remaining.
Hodgson was deeply impressed with the manoeuvre, as he broke it down for TNT Sports.
"We get a good opportunity to see not only how good the bike is working, but also the rider as well, "Hodgson said. "Man and machine working together, this is a perfect example."
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Cutting to a close-up shot of Marquez’s bike, Hodgson said: "He has essentially already made the pass. He has set up his brother out of the corner onto the straight, he has levelled him; is in the braking zone.
"Watch the front of this Ducati when he hits the brakes. Watch how it dives, but keep your eye on the rear. Keep your eye on how that rear tyre keeps glued to the ground. I find this fascinating.
"He grabs the brake hard. At this point you expect the bike to come off the ground, that’s what normally happens. What Ducati have … the way it releases back it prevents the weight transfer, it prevents the kick forward. It keeps the back wheel on the ground."
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Grand Prix Argentina Highlights as Marc Marquez fends off brother Alex to take race win
Video credit: TNT Sports
While impressed by Ducati’s engineering, Hodgson also said the skill of the rider was in play.
"The next bit is the rider, the talent," Hodgson said. "As I play it forward, the bike is essentially backing in, the engine braking is working. All of a sudden the rear snaps back into line.
"So what Marc does is he has put his foot back onto the footrest. He’s not on the rear brake yet. He then turns it in and starts to apply the rear brake.
"Why is he doing that? He is leaning into the corner. You are overloading the front, the engine braking has stopped so you are now down to talent, feel, which Marc has got more of than anyone.
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Marc Marquez and brother Alex pull off synchronised celebration at Grand Prix Argentina
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He uses the rear brake. He has less engine braking in this phase than any other rider on a Ducati, I know that for a fact, because he wants to use his foot, use his skill and talent to apply the rear brake.
"When he’s in the corner at full lean he pushes on it a little harder. What does that do? It slides the rear, the rear turns. That allows him to complete the corner, stand the bike up and fire it out.
"You are not going to get a much better example. Man and machine working perfectly."
Watch and stream the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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