Marc Márquez recently referred to his brother Álex as “the great surprise of the preseason” after seeing the progress he’s made with Gresini over the seven days of training. This assessment isn’t surprising, given Álex’s performance – he led in Montmeló, achieved the best time in Malaysia, and has consistently been in the top three in Thailand.
That’s why Cervera’s evaluation of these winter tests can only be described as extremely positive. He expressed his happiness with how things have gone, saying, “We’ve been very constant and solid, always within the top 3 or top 5.” Since he first got on the motorcycle in Montmeló, Álex has felt very comfortable, a sensation he’s been able to confirm with each passing day. He believes he’s prepared and has a great feeling heading into the first race.
Sensations
Álex didn’t hesitate when asked if this had been his best preseason in the queen class. “Yes, it is,” he said, reflecting on his previous experiences. His first year with Ducati in 2023 was good, but he felt less prepared with the motorcycle back then. Now, in his third year with Ducati and following a difficult 2024, Álex believes the experience they’ve gained has given them a very solid base to work from.
Long batch problems
Even a difficulty during his long batch of 23 laps couldn’t dampen Álex’s spirits. He encountered problems during the simulation, one with electronics which he attributed to human failure, and another with the front tire, which had very high pressure and overheated. Despite these issues, Álex remained optimistic, noting that he was alone on the track and therefore couldn’t compare his performance directly to others.
Red Bull
In love with his motorcycle
The source of Álex’s joy comes from his machine, the same Ducati that Jorge Martín used to win the championship in 2024. He described it as “almost perfect,” noting that while there’s always room for improvement, making significant changes can be challenging because enhancing one aspect often compromises another. With the GP24, Álex finds the balance to be very good, allowing for minor tweaks without significant drawbacks.
Very close to the GP25
Given his satisfaction with the current bike, Álex understands why the official Ducati team might be hesitant to introduce the new GP25 engine. He suggests focusing on telemetry data for more insights, believing that if they do decide to use the new engine, it will provide a useful comparison. Álex hopes that not much can be improved during the season, as they’ll have to work with what they have until the end, and he considers the GP24 to be very good to ride.
Joke about Marc
Despite his positive outlook, Álex is clear about who the favorite is to overcome in Thailand – his brother Marc. With a bit of humor, Álex noted that he had everything under control until Marc decided to take the lead, recognizing that Marc often doesn’t push his limits during preseason tests. When Marc does decide to push and has everything under control, Álex acknowledges that he has an extra edge, especially on circuits like this one where he’s traditionally been very fast.