Alex Marquez wins first-ever MotoGP Grand Prix to take lead of championship over older brother Marc

MotoGP | Grand Prix Spain

Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto | 27.04.2025

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14:15

MAGNIFICENT MARQUEZ CLAIMS MAIDEN VICTORY IN JEREZ

Image credit: Getty Images

Alex Marquez stepped out from the shadow of his older brother Marc with a brilliant ride to claim victory at the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez.

Marquez narrowly avoided a catastrophic first-lap crash as he came close to taking out his brother and Francesco Bagnaia when an over-zealous move into Turn 6 nearly ended in disaster.

But after that early rush of blood to the head, Marquez settled down and, after his brother crashed out of contention, he chased down pole-sitter and early race leader Fabio Quartararo to take the lead before pulling clear to claim an emotional first-ever MotoGP race victory on home soil.

Marquez’s victory also saw him climb to the top of the MotoGP riders’ standings as he took the lead of the championship by one point ahead of his brother Marc.

Quartararo completed an impressive race to take second place, while Italy’s Bagnaia – winner at Jerez for each of the past three years – had to content himself with third.

14:09

LAVERTY: ALEX MARQUEZ HAS "STEPPED OUT OF MARC'S SHADOW"

Laverty: Alex Marquez has 'stepped out of his brother's shadow' with Grand Prix Spain triumph

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports' MotoGP analyst Michael Laverty says that Alex Marquez's win at Jerez could be a watershed moment for the former Moto3 and Moto2 world champion as he shone on a day that many expected to see his older brother dominate.

"For Alex, he's certainly stepped out of Marc's shadow this year," said Laverty on TNT Sports' MotoGP Chequered Flag.

"When he was teammates, arguably Marc was the stronger of the two. For whatever reason, Alex's style just didn't click with the GP23 – he was stronger on the old bike in the season before.

"But this year, the stars have aligned, he's got the lead status in this team with a rookie alongside him in Fermin Aldeguer, a great team and squad around him in Gresini, a family-run environment, and it's allowed him to flourish.

"He's still very modest in his expectations. He's still not aggressive enough on his brother, but anyone else, he's ultra-aggressive. He's a demon on the brakes – we've seen it today. He's just doing everything so well.

"I think he'll take a lot of confidence from leading the title race after his first victory at home in Jerez. So, yeah, it's all coming together for Alex. Career-wise, he's always been a slow burner."

Laverty also said that the manner of Marquez's victory impressed him, as he overcame a near disaster on the opening lap before catching and passing Fabio Quartararo for the win.

"He was aggressive at the start, almost wiped everybody out into Turn 6, regained his composure, and then he just was so controlled," said Laverty.

"(He) made the moves at the right time and then controlled the pace. That was a stylish way to win your first MotoGP race."

14:04

"THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT" FOR ALEX MARQUEZ

Alex Marquez celebrated his 29th birthday on Wednesday, and said that his victory in Jerez was the perfect way to celebrate.

"The best birthday present! Amazing!" he said in parc ferme.

"I cannot ask for more. It was a race where it was really clever. The move that I did in the beginning, I attacked a little bit too much and I lost too much time there.

"But later on, I was with my pace, concentrating, trying to not make any any gap and trying to not give any chance to the other ones. So I was controlling the race perfectly, and I'm super happy."

13:55

WHAT A MOMENT!

Alex Marquez was overcome by emotion during his cool-down lap, and he parked up to greet the fans, the joy was there for all to see as he celebrated his maiden MotoGP victory in front of the Spanish fans.

'He's exploded onto the scene' - Alex Marquez celebrates with crowd at Grand Prix Spain

Video credit: TNT Sports

13:50

MOTOGP STANDINGS AFTER JEREZ

1. Alex Marquez (SPA), 140

2. Marc Marquez (SPA), 139

3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), 120

4. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), 84

25/25

ALEX MARQUEZ WINS THE SPANISH MOTOGP!

What a moment for Alex Marquez, who claims the victory in Jerez. The former Moto3 and Moto2 world champion claims his first-ever MotoGP victory, and he's done it on home soil.

There are tears of joy in his pit garage as his team celebrate his victory, as a clearly emotional Marquez rolls around on his cool-down lap, holding the Spanish flag.

Fabio Quartararo held off Francesco Bagnaia for second, but today is all about Alex Marquez, whose victory takes him to the top of the championship on a day to remember in Jerez.

25/25

BAGNAIA IS PUSHING

With just one lap to go, Francesco Bagnaia has pulled the pin and is pushing to the limit in a bid to overhaul Fabio Quartararo for second. Could we be about to see some last-lap drama here in Jerez?

We've had plenty of last-corner skirmishes at this famous circuit over the years. Could we get another between Quartararo and Bagnaia here?

21/25

THE RACE FOR SECOND IS ON

Francesco Bagnaia and Maverick Vinales are both turning up the pace as they chase Fabio Quartararo in second.

The Frenchman has a gap of half a second, while Vinales is six tenths behind Bagnaia. The two gaps are both gradually closing as we enter the closing laps here in Jerez.

Can Quartararo hold on to second? Can Vinales gatecrash the podium? We'll find out in the next four laps.

Alex Marquez, meanwhile, is away and clear. He's 2.8 seconds ahead of the rest, and looks set for a huge win on home soil.

20/25

MARQUEZ'S BIG MOVE

Here's how Alex Marquez look control of the Spanish MotoGP, as he made a clean pass on Fabio Quartararo to take the lead in Jerez.

He's since taken off and currently runs 2.5 seconds clear of the Frenchman with six laps to go.

'Alex Marquez gets through to lead' - Quartararo gives up pole at Grand Prix Spain

Video credit: TNT Sports

18/25

MARQUEZ CONTROLLING THE PACE

"It's Alex Marquez's race to lose here," says TNT Sports' commentator Gavin Emmett as the Spanish ace looks comfortable out front in the Spanish MotoGP.

He's keeping the gap between 1.8 and 2.0 seconds to Quartararo in second. Bagnaia appears to have settled back into third after looking like he was pushing the Frenchman for second, but now he's starting to get reeled in by the KTM of Maverick Vinales, who would love a podium on home soil.

Elsewhere, Franco Morbidelli's afternoon is over after he crashed out on his VR46 Ducati.

16/25

NASTY CRASH FOR JOAN MIR

Jerez just claimed another front-end crash victim as Joan Mir slides off in a painful-looking crash.

The initial crash itself looked relatively soft, but Mir was hit by his own bike as they both came to a stop.

15/25

WILL MARQUEZ RUN AWAY WITH IT?

Alex Marquez is getting his head down in a bid to pull a big gap to Quartararo and Bagnaia in second and third, and all eyes are now on the Italian, who looks quicker than Quartararo at the moment.

It looks like Bagnaia is being held up a little, and he'll want to get past the Frenchman as quickly as possible in order to start closing the gap on Marquez out front.

If Quartararo keeps Baganaia behind him for too much longer, Marquez will have a big gap to play with in the closing 10 laps of this race.

12/25

ALEX MARQUEZ LEADS!

Alex Marquez has looked threatening behind Fabio Quartararo for a few laps now, and he's decided that enough is enough and passed the Frenchman to take the lead of the Spanish MotoGP.

He'll get the benefit of running in free air, which should save his front tyre a little, but he's also showing his pace as he immediately pulls a decent gap to Quartararo, who is now coming under pressure from Bagnaia.

10/25

QUARTARARO HEADS THE FIELD

His Sprint Race lasted less than two laps on Saturday, but Fabio Quartararo has settled into his work in the MotoGP race and looks in fine fettle out front.

Alex Marquez is in hot pursuit, a third of a second behind, with Francesco Bagnaia a little further back in third. They've broken away from the rest of the pack.

8/25

MARC MARQUEZ'S TURN 8 NIGHTMARE

Marc Marquez was the clear favourite to win the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez, but those chances were all but erased when he lost the front end heading into Turn 8. He's still running, but he won't take the win today.

'Marquez is down!' - Marc Marquez spins out at Grand Prix Spain

Video credit: TNT Sports

7/25

ALEX MARQUEZ IS ON THE CHARGE

His brother may have crashed, but Alex Marquez is looking good early on here at Jerez. He's dealt with Francesco Bagnaia to take second, and is now turning up the heat as he chases down Fabio Quartararo. The gap is visibly closing already, and it might not be long before Alex is looking for a pass for the lead.

Meanwhile, Fermin Aldeguer crashes out of fifth place after a solid start.

1. Quartararo

2. A. Marquez

3. Bagnaia

4. Vinales

5. Di Giannantonio

6. Mir

3/25

MARC MARQUEZ IS OFF!

Disaster has struck Marc Marquez, who crashes out at the Aspar corner!

He went in a little hot and lost the front end as he got caught pushing too hard, too early, on Turn 8 of the Grand Prix.

He's back on his bike and back on track, but his chances of victory here at Jerez are buried in the Turn 8 gravel.

1/25

LIGHTS OUT IN JEREZ!

We're off and running, and Quartararo has made a brilliant start. Marc Marquez got bogged down a little off the line, and Bagnaia jumped the queue to take second. Moments later, Alex Marquez dive-bombed the pack and nearly took out his brother and Bagnaia.

Teammates Marc Marquez and Bagnaia are swapping paint already, and that's good news for Quartararo, who has settled into an early lead.

It's been a crazy start to the race here at Jerez!

Quartararo leads from the first lap at Grand Prix Spain as Marc Marquez slips back

Video credit: TNT Sports

13:00

WARM-UP LAP

The riders have pulled away from the grid to embark on their sighting lap ahead of the Spanish MotoGP.

We’re just moments away from lights out, and 25 laps of red-hot racing on one of the best circuits on the calendar, and one that has seen plenty of drama over the years.

Can Marc Marquez continue his early-season dominance? Will Alex Marquez upstage his brother on home soil? Could Francesco Bagnaia claim his fourth straight Spanish GP victory? Or will Fabio Quartararo prove the joker in the pack by holding off the squadron of Ducatis to claim a huge victory for Yamaha?

We're about to find out!

12:55

THIS IS YOUR FIVE-MINUTE WARNING!

The final countdown is on as the riders make their final checks on the grid before heading off on their warm-up laps.

Will Ducati dominate once again, or could Quartararo and Yamaha spoil the party in Spain? Get the snacks and drinks to hand and get settled in for what should be a cracking MotoGP race.