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Marquez brothers' 'dream' 1-2 triumph, Francesco Bagnaia's 'hammering' - The story of Grand Prix Thailand
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Published 02/03/2025 at 15:33 GMT
The Chang International Circuit in Buriram played host to Grand Prix Thailand this weekend, with a double victory going to Ducati Lenovo new boy Marc Marquez. Second place in both races went to his younger brother, Alex, and third spot was claimed by a frustrated Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia will have to wait at least until Argentina in two weeks for revenge.
Highlights: Marquez completes Grand Prix Thailand double on Ducati Lenovo debut
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The 2025 MotoGP season kicked off this weekend at the Buriram track in Thailand, with defending champion Jorge Martin absent.
What happened?
New Ducati Lenovo rider Marc Marquez scored a hugely impressive debut double victory, with Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez - his brother - second in both the Sprint and full races.
Defending champion Martin absent after injury setback
The weekend went ahead without 2024 champion Jorge Martin, who is out indefinitely with a hand injury.
The new Aprilia rider suffered multiple fractures in his left hand, and there is no certainty about when he will be back in action, meaning he may face an insurmountable task when he does return to the track.
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'It's a mess' - Hodgson concerned over Martin's injury as champion misses Grand Prix Thailand
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From the outset, the Marquez brothers dominated, and there was a sign of things to come when they were quickest in Friday’s practice session.
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Marquez in ‘ominous’ form in MotoGP Thailand practice – ‘Looks at one with his bike’
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The pair were first and second, and Bagnaia looked like he had it all to do in qualifying if he wanted to break their grip at the top.
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Marquez senior celebrates as Alex edges Marc for family one-two in MotoGP Thailand practice
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However, the Spaniards could not be knocked off their perches by any challenger in Saturday’s Sprint qualifying, and they qualified first and second - older brother Marc in first - for the Sprint race.
They had gained an early advantage to compete for the season’s opening championship points in the first direct competition of 2025.
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Marc Marquez pips brother Alex and Bagnaia to pole in Thailand
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That advantage held as the 1-2 was repeated for the third time, with the duo locking out the rest of the chasing pack.
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Highlights: Marquez claims Sprint win on Ducati debut ahead of brother Alex
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'One of the greatest comebacks of all time'
For Marquez senior, it heralded the chance to begin the "greatest comeback" in sport, with the six-time world champion on the hunt for glory.
After six world championship wins between 2013 and 2019, the 32-year-old had struggled to match his best form in the following years.
The emergence of Bagnaia in particular had seen him fall from prominence at the top of the sport, despite flashes of his undeniable talent each season. His efforts for Gresini last year saw him land third place in the overall standings. His best effort since 2019, there were hints that he was on his way back.
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'One of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time' - Marquez's road to redemption
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Marquez 'not the kind of guy' - Bagnaia faces new challenger
In the build-up to Sunday’s main event, TNT expert Neil Hodgson believed that Bagnaia would not be the kind of rider to sit back and let his new team-mate dominate.
He claimed: "That man is not going to lie down. This is his garage. This is Pecco Bagnaia’s garage. Pecco wants to control that garage. I’m expecting to see a proper fight today."
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'This man won't lie down' - Hodgson expects Bagnaia to battle against Marquez
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Bagnaia declared himself only two-thirds satisfied with third place on the podium after falling just short in the world championship last year.
He hoped that Sunday's full race would give him the chance to improve his finishing position.
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Bagnaia '60-70% happy' with podium finish, says Ogura 'can fight for the top'
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For the younger Marquez brother, it seemed that his pace had taken him by surprise, performing better "than expected" in the first round of the season.
Alex had often been criticised for his lack of consistency, and he said ahead of the full race that he wanted to work on matching the Ducati Lenovo tyre management.
He said: "I’m super happy. I think we did our maximum. Our maximum was to get second, because Marc looks like he’s on another step. We’ll try to analyse... why they are able to manage [tyres] better than us and learn from that."
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'We did our maximum' - Alex Marquez admits he 'got closer than expected' to brother Marc in Sprint
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Marc Marquez was understandably delighted with a "perfect" result in the Sprint victory on Saturday, having established himself as a worthy rival to another former world champion, and his Ducati team-mate, Bagnaia.
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Marquez hails 'perfect Saturday' after Sprint win and pole position - 'Super happy'
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'What a way to start 2025' - Marquez brothers seal another 1-2 in Thailand
The race was simply more of the same, with worrying signs for Bagnaia as he proved unable to dislodge either rider ahead of him.
Both Marquez brothers had a chance to enjoy the lead in Thailand in the sweltering heat, and Marc gave up pole position after he suffered a brief technical problem.
For a short moment it appeared that it might be the satellite Ducati rider who would take the chequered flag, but ultimately the factory man claimed the win.
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'What a way to start 2025' - Marquez celebrates Grand Prix Thailand double triumph
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Third place went to Bagnaia and there was an element of frustration as he reflected on his curtailed ambitions and inability to match his new colleague for pace. Saying in parc ferme that his goal was limited to second spot, and even that was denied him by Alex.
"Marc was playing with us all the way," he conceded. "I tried my best, but I was slower and I was losing more time in some parts of the track."
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'I tried my best' - Bagnaia admits defeat against quicker Marquez
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Marquez celebrates 'dream' weekend
For Marc, he was understandably delighted with a "dream" weekend that saw a brilliant start to a new chapter at Ducati Lenovo, and he was touched by the chance to race his younger sibling for victory.
With no world title since 2019, he may now be setting his sights on gaining a march on the injured Martin, and his new team-mate Bagnaia.
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'The best weekend of my life' - Marc Marquez celebrates one-two with brother Alex
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He said: "I mean, this is a dream. It's a dream start for my new journey with Ducati like this in Thailand, where I won my last four championships. To be here with my brother, you know, mate, incredible."
'MARC IS NOT THE GUY YOU WANT NEXT TO YOU' - GUINTOLI
Former rider Michael Laverty reflected on the success of the two brothers over the course of the weekend, with no other rider given a chance at the top two spots.
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Laverty suggested that while they might not be on the same team this season, their blood ties will in some ways turn them into a cooperative pairing on the track.
Sylvain Guintoli was worried for Bagnaia given the ease with which Marc had secured maximum points over the three days of racing, saying: "What’s alarming for Pecco [Bagnaia] is he’s [Marquez] made it look easy. Marc is not the guy you want next to you... You don’t want that guy as your team-mate.
"I think Pecco was expecting it a little bit after winter testing, but not that much. Marc was really strong, and he hammered him today."
Laverty thought that Grand Prix Argentina, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ in two weeks, would give him a much better chance of competing.
He said: "Bagnaia won’t be too downbeat, because the front tyre did not suit his riding style this weekend. He’ll focus on the positives, and he’ll want to come back swinging in a fortnight’s time in Argentina, a racetrack that suits his style better."
After watching both Marquez brothers, and their father, celebrate their family success, there was an even more heartwarming moment to come to round out the weekend.
Marc Marquez welcomed in a young fan he had got to know last season, and called the kid in to sit on his winning bike in full team kit.
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'This is Marc's No. 1 fan' - Memory of a lifetime for young Marquez supporter at Grand Prix Thailand
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Marquez's "No. 1 fan" could have more to celebrate, when TNT Sports and discovery+ move on to provide live coverage of Grand Prix Argentina. Bagnaia and the other riders will hope for their own victories.
Watch and stream the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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