Alex Marquez Laments Rear Tyre Woes After Valencia MotoGP Slide

Valencia, Spain – Alex Marquez, the Gresini Racing MotoGP rider, has attributed a significant drop in performance during the Valencia Grand Prix to excessive rear tyre degradation and vibrations, ultimately costing him a potential podium finish. Despite starting from the front row and initially holding second position, Marquez’s pace deteriorated rapidly, leading to a sixth-place finish in the season finale at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Marquez, who secured a front-row start, capitalized on his grid position to slot into second place behind Marco Bezzecchi of VR46 Racing early in the race. However, his promising start was short-lived. By lap five, a noticeable decline in his bike’s performance became apparent, making him vulnerable to the pursuing riders.

Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez was the first to capitalize on Marquez’s struggles, overtaking him on lap 11. KTM’s Pedro Acosta and VR46 Racing’s Fabio di Giannantonio soon followed, further demoting Marquez in the standings. The final blow came on the last lap when Marquez’s Gresini teammate, Fermin Aldeguer, passed him for fifth place.

As the race progressed, Marquez’s lap times steadily increased, with laps in the mid-to-high 1m31s range on worn tyres. This placed him at a disadvantage of almost half a second per lap compared to the frontrunners. Eventually, he crossed the finish line more than eight seconds behind race winner Bezzecchi.

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The race result was a stark contrast to Marquez’s performance on Saturday, where he dominated the sprint race, leading from the front and securing a commanding victory over Acosta. The unexpected reversal in performance left Marquez and his team searching for answers.

"I was able to make a good start, to be quite comfortable behind Marco," Marquez stated after the race. "But from lap five to seven, more or less, I started to drop so much on the rear. That was the main problem – a lot of vibrations on the rear and all that. I suffered from that moment until the end. The last 15 laps were difficult to finish."

Marquez expressed his surprise at the sudden drop-off in performance at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, with chattering on the rear tyre exacerbating his difficulties. The rapid degradation of the rear tyre was a key factor in his inability to maintain pace and defend his position.

"I don’t know [what caused the degradation], we need to analyze a little bit and to see what happened exactly, because the first drop was too early," he explained. "At that moment, the tyre is not even on the temperature. After five laps, you may use 15% of the tyre, but no more. But at that moment, I started to already have some vibrations, some drop on the left, especially on the straight, and I started to lose a lot of positions. The most important thing is to try to learn, and to change the riding style a little to finish the race."

The Gresini Racing team intends to thoroughly investigate the tyre issues during upcoming tests to identify the root cause and implement solutions for future races. Marquez emphasized the importance of addressing these problems promptly to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

"It’s better that something like this happened now than in the mid-season in 2026," he said. "So, it’s better to have these problems now so we can solve them on Tuesday."

Tyre strategy played a crucial role throughout the Valencia Grand Prix weekend. With the exception of LCR Honda’s Somkiat Chantra, the entire MotoGP field opted for a hard tyre on the front and a medium tyre on the rear. However, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo track can be particularly challenging on tyres, and Marquez was puzzled as to why his tyres degraded so early in the race, despite the consensus choice of tyre compounds.

Despite the disappointing end to the race, Marquez concluded the year with a career-best second in the overall standings. He secured three wins and 12 podium finishes in Sunday races, demonstrating his consistency and competitiveness throughout the season.

Background on Alex Marquez

Alex Marquez, the younger brother of eight-time world champion Marc Marquez, began his MotoGP career in 2020 with Repsol Honda. After a challenging first season, he moved to LCR Honda in 2021 before joining Gresini Racing in 2023. His move to Gresini marked a turning point in his career, as he immediately demonstrated improved performance and secured his first MotoGP victory in the sprint race at Silverstone.

Gresini Racing Team

Gresini Racing, an independent team in the MotoGP paddock, has a long and successful history in motorcycle racing. Founded by the late Fausto Gresini, the team has achieved numerous victories and championships in various classes. In recent years, Gresini has emerged as a competitive force in MotoGP, attracting talented riders and consistently challenging the factory teams.

Circuit Ricardo Tormo

Circuit Ricardo Tormo, located in Valencia, Spain, has been a regular fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 1999. Known for its tight and twisty layout, the track presents a unique challenge for riders and engineers. The circuit’s relatively short length and numerous corners often result in close and exciting races. The track’s abrasive surface is also known to be tough on tyres, making tyre management a crucial aspect of race strategy.

MotoGP Tyre Strategies

Tyre selection is a critical element of MotoGP race strategy. Riders and teams carefully analyze track conditions, weather forecasts, and their bike’s setup to determine the optimal tyre compounds for each race. The available tyre options typically include soft, medium, and hard compounds, each offering different levels of grip and durability.

Soft tyres provide the most grip but tend to degrade quickly, making them suitable for shorter races or qualifying sessions. Hard tyres offer greater durability but less grip, making them a better choice for longer races where tyre management is essential. Medium tyres strike a balance between grip and durability, making them a versatile option for a variety of conditions.

The Valencia Grand Prix often presents unique tyre challenges due to the track’s abrasive surface and demanding layout. Riders must carefully manage their tyres throughout the race to maintain pace and avoid excessive degradation.

Looking Ahead

Despite the disappointing end to the Valencia Grand Prix, Alex Marquez and the Gresini Racing team remain optimistic about the future. The team will use the upcoming tests to analyze the tyre issues and implement solutions for the 2027 season. Marquez is determined to build on his career-best season and continue challenging for podiums and victories in the years to come.

The focus now shifts to the post-season tests, where Marquez and his team will work diligently to understand and resolve the tyre issues that plagued them in Valencia. The data gathered during these tests will be crucial in developing strategies and setups for the upcoming season, with the aim of ensuring that Marquez can consistently compete at the highest level.