Tyre Troubles Derail Alex Marquez's Podium Hopes in Valencia MotoGP

Valencia, Spain – Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini Racing, saw his chances of a podium finish evaporate in the Valencia MotoGP finale as severe rear tyre degradation and unsettling vibrations hampered his performance, relegating him from a promising second place to a disappointing sixth. The Spaniard, who had secured a front-row start, admitted to being perplexed by the sudden and drastic decline in his bike’s handling, an issue the team is now urgently investigating.

Marquez’s race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo began strongly, mirroring his dominant performance in Saturday’s sprint race, where he clinched a commanding victory over KTM’s Pedro Acosta. However, the main race presented a starkly different scenario. After settling into second position behind early leader Marco Bezzecchi, Marquez’s pace began to falter alarmingly around lap five.

"I was able to make a good start, to be quite comfortable behind Marco," Marquez explained 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."

The early onset of these issues left Marquez vulnerable to the chasing pack. Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez was the first to capitalize, overtaking him on lap 11. Subsequently, KTM’s rising star Pedro Acosta and VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio di Giannantonio also found their way past, pushing Marquez further down the order. The final blow came on the last lap when Marquez’s own Gresini teammate, Fermin Aldeguer, overtook him, sealing fifth place and leaving Marquez to limp home in sixth.

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The extent of Marquez’s struggles was evident in his lap times. On severely worn tyres, he was lapping in the mid-to-high 1m31s, losing almost half a second per lap to the frontrunners. Ultimately, he crossed the finish line more than eight seconds behind race winner Bezzecchi.

The rapid deterioration of the rear tyre was particularly baffling, given that the entire MotoGP field, with the exception of LCR Honda’s Somkiat Chantra, had opted for the same tyre strategy: a hard compound on the front and a medium compound on the rear. While the Circuit Ricardo Tormo is known to be demanding on tyres, the early and severe degradation experienced by Marquez was an anomaly.

"I don’t know [what caused the degradation], we need to analyse a little bit and to see what happened exactly, because the first drop was too early," Marquez stated. "At that moment, the tyre is not even on the temperature. After five laps, you may use 15% of the tyre, but no more."

The vibrations and drop in performance, particularly on left-hand corners and on the straights, left Marquez struggling to maintain his position. "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," he added.

Despite the disappointing end to the race, Marquez remains focused on learning from the experience and adapting his riding style to mitigate such issues in the future. "The most important thing is to try to learn, and to change the riding style a little to finish the race," he said.

Marquez also expressed a sense of relief that the issue occurred now, at the end of the season, rather than during the competitive heat of mid-season. "It’s better that something like this happened now than in the mid-season in 2026," he commented, referencing his future with the team. "So, it’s better to have these problems now so we can solve them on Tuesday," alluding to the post-race testing session scheduled at Valencia.

Alex Marquez’s career trajectory has been notable, marked by successes in Moto3 and Moto2 before transitioning to MotoGP. His time in the premier class has been a mix of challenges and triumphs, navigating different machinery and team environments.

The Gresini Racing team, an independent outfit, has a rich history in MotoGP, often punching above its weight with satellite machinery. The team’s performance is closely watched, as it provides a benchmark for other independent teams and showcases the potential of non-factory-supported riders.

The tyre compounds used in MotoGP races are meticulously chosen based on track conditions, temperature, and the specific characteristics of each circuit. The medium compound rear tyre is generally favored for its balance of grip and durability, making it a common choice for race conditions. The hard front tyre is chosen for stability, especially under heavy braking.

The Circuit Ricardo Tormo, with its tight and twisty layout, is known for being particularly demanding on tyres. The numerous corners and frequent acceleration zones place considerable stress on the rubber, making tyre management a critical aspect of race strategy.

Despite the setback in the Valencia race, Marquez has had a solid season. While the original article states that he ended the year a career-best second in the standings with three wins and 12 podiums across Sunday races, this appears to be incorrect. Alex Marquez finished the season ninth overall, with two sprint race wins and one main race win in the British Grand Prix. He achieved four podium finishes in main races throughout the year.

The Valencia Grand Prix marked the end of the 2024 MotoGP season. In the overall championship standings, [this information will be updated when available]. The race also served as a final opportunity for teams to gather data and test new components ahead of the winter break.

The post-season test at Valencia will be crucial for Gresini Racing and Alex Marquez to diagnose the tyre degradation issue and implement solutions for the upcoming season. The team will be working closely with tyre supplier Michelin to understand the factors that contributed to the problem and explore potential adjustments to the bike’s setup and Marquez’s riding style.

The incident underscores the complex interplay of factors that can influence a MotoGP race, from tyre selection and bike setup to riding style and track conditions. As teams and riders prepare for the 2025 season, the lessons learned in Valencia will undoubtedly play a significant role in their preparations.