Is Marc Marquez still an 'alien'? That's the question on everyone's mind after a season where he's seemingly outpaced even his own teammates. This year, riding for the strongest manufacturer in MotoGP, Marquez's dominance shouldn't come as a surprise. But the extent of his success has left many, including one of his rivals, eating their words.
His biggest competitors were expected to come from within Ducati. We're talking about heavy hitters like two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia, the rapidly improving Alex Marquez, and Fermin Aldeguer, tipped as MotoGP's next superstar. The VR46 riders have also proven their mettle with Grand Prix wins.
Yet, Marquez has consistently outperformed them all. Even after missing two races due to injury, he's still a staggering 132 to 363 points ahead of his closest Ducati rivals. Let's take a look at the standings:
| RIDER | TEAM | BIKE | WINS | PODIUMS | PTS |
| :---------- | :------- | :----- | :--- | :------ | :-- |
| M. Marquez | Ducati | GP25 | 25 | 31 | 545 |
| A. Marquez | Gresini | GP24 | 4 | 23 | 413 |
| F. Bagnaia | Ducati | GP25 | 4 | 15 | 286 |
| F. Morbidelli | VR46 | GP24 | 0 | 4 | 227 |
| F. Di Giannantonio | VR46 | GP25 | 0 | 7 | 226 |
| F. Aldeguer | Gresini | GP24 | 1 | 6 | 186 |
Marquez has secured almost three times as many wins (25) as all other Ducati riders combined (9). He's responsible for 31 of the 86 podium finishes achieved on Desmosedici motorcycles.
Fabio Di Giannantonio's Underestimation
One rider who seemed particularly confident about challenging Marquez was Fabio Di Giannantonio, riding for VR46 on a Ducati contract with a factory-spec GP25.
Last year, when both riders were on GP23 bikes, Di Giannantonio claimed he didn't see any 'big differences' when studying Marquez, no longer viewing him as an untouchable 'alien'.
He stated, "I feel like I’m at an excellent level and while maybe in my debut in MotoGP I saw him a little more from afar, now I no longer see him as an alien. Obviously I have great respect for him because he is a champion and when he rides he has his magic, but I don’t see him as unattainable. I see him as a rival and even when I study him I don’t see big differences.”
The Aftermath and the Apology
Now, with Marquez almost 350 points ahead of Di Giannantonio, despite injuries, and the latter yet to win on the GP25, it begs the question: Is an apology warranted?
Marquez took Di Giannantonio's Gresini seat for 2024 after his dramatic departure from Honda. Di Giannantonio was left in a difficult position, having just bought a new home. But, Luca Marini's VR46 exit opened a door.
The GP24 seems to be a superior bike in the hands of most riders, but Marquez has transformed its successor into one of the most dominant motorcycles ever. Neither Di Giannantonio nor Bagnaia has been able to match his performance.
This alone proves Marquez still deserves the 'alien' title, even as the second-oldest rider on the grid.
Di Giannantonio has acknowledged Marquez's 'incredible' performance this year, pointing out that he won nearly 80% of the races before his title coronation.
He will be one of four riders on GP26 bikes next season, alongside the factory duo and the upgraded Alex Marquez.
So, what do you think? Does Marquez still deserve the 'alien' title? Should Di Giannantonio offer an apology? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
