Marquez Masterclass: Ducati’s New King Reigns in Thailand

Marquez dominates as Ducati sweeps the podium in a scorching season opener, Miller top Yamaha

Marc Marquez delivered a masterclass in strategy and control, using patience and raw speed to claim victory in the brutally hot Thai Grand Prix. The Ducati rider waited until the final laps to unleash his true pace, overtaking his brother Alex Marquez and pulling away effortlessly to take his first season-opening win since 2019.

Marc launched beautifully off the line, while Alex and Francesco Bagnaia made contact in the opening corners. Ai Ogura, the only rider gambling on a soft front and soft rear tyre, charged into fourth place, while Fabio Quartararo plummeted to 18th in a nightmare start.

By Lap 3, only the Marquez brothers were lapping in the 1:30s, quickly gapping Bagnaia, who had no answer to their blistering pace. Further back, Miller battled Bezzecchi for sixth, while Pedro Acosta’s race ended early after crashing into Turn 1 on Lap 4. At the front, Marc seemed to have everything under control, stretching his lead to 1.5 seconds over Alex by Lap 5.

Then on Lap 7 Marc suddenly slowed, allowing Alex to take the lead. While speculation grew about a possible issue, he immediately picked up the pace again and tucked in behind his brother, perhaps managing his tyres. Meanwhile, Ogura and Franco Morbidelli continued to impress, running in the top five and keeping Bagnaia honest.

Despite sitting directly behind Alex for several laps, it became increasingly clear that Marc wasn’t struggling at all—he simply chose not to pass. With track temperatures soaring to 60 degrees, riders began entering conservation mode, carefully managing tyres in the brutal heat. By Lap 20, Bagnaia had gradually closed in, turning the race into a three-way fight for the lead and ramping up the tension.

With just three laps to go, Marc finally made his move, diving into Turn 12 to reclaim the lead. The moment he was ahead, any doubts about his pace were erased—he immediately pulled a gap, breaking his brother’s resistance while Bagnaia struggled to close the distance. By the start of the final lap, Marc had stretched his advantage to two seconds, confirming his supremacy in an emphatic display.

As Marc clinched victory, Alex crossed the line in second, resisting Bagnaia’s late charge, with the reigning champion settling for third place. Meanwhile, Ogura’s sensational ride saw him finish just outside the podium, further proving his potential on the Trackhouse Aprilia.

This marked Marc’s first season-opening victory since 2019 and Ducati’s first opening race win sincer Casey Stoner in 2007. In sweeping Qualifying, the Sprint Race and Main Race, Marquez has delivered a statement of intent for the 2025 season. With two of his favourite tracks next on the calendar in Argentina and America, the Marquez onslaught may have only just begun.

Thai MotoGP Race