Marc Márquez Overcomes Tire Pressure Troubles – A Strategic and Otherworldly Performance at the MotoGP 2025 Season Opener in Thailand
Last week, MotoGP concluded the opening round of the 2025 season in Thailand. As many already know, Marc Márquez delivered a dominant performance from qualifying to the sprint race and ultimately the main race, securing an overwhelming victory. Throughout practice and qualifying, Márquez demonstrated exceptional speed and pace, but in the final race, he faced an unexpected challenge: his tire pressure was lower than the regulation limit.
Despite this setback, Márquez managed to claim victory. However, simply watching his race or reading his post-race interviews might not fully convey the brilliance of his performance. This article will break down the strategic adjustments he made on race day and explain just how extraordinary his actions were under extreme conditions.
The Issue: Low Tire Pressure
For the 2025 season, Márquez moved to the Ducati Lenovo Team. While he and the team are still optimizing their collaboration and machine setup, the tire pressure issue in the race may have stemmed from the team’s incomplete understanding of Márquez’s riding style and tire heating method.
According to regulations introduced in 2024, tire pressure must remain above the stipulated level for at least 60% of the race distance. Failure to comply results in a 16-second time penalty in Grand Prix races. Confronted with this issue in the scorching Thai conditions, Márquez temporarily reduced his pace after a few laps, positioning himself behind his younger brother, Álex Márquez, to raise his tire pressure strategically.
Reviewing Marc Márquez’s Race Performance
Starting from pole position, the race spanned 26 laps. Márquez got off to a strong start and immediately took the lead. His initial race strategy, as he explained post-race, was:
“The plan was to push hard for the first two laps. I expected Pecco (Francesco Bagnaia) to attack in the later stages.”
This confirms that he intended to break away early, anticipating a late-race challenge from Bagnaia. However, after two laps, he noticed his tire pressure was not within the optimal range:
“I realized the tire pressure was too low, so I started braking harder and longer from lap two to lap three to increase it.”
Still, this was not enough. Recognizing that he could not sufficiently heat the tires on his own, Márquez decided to follow Álex closely, utilizing the heat from his brother’s bike to warm his own tires. He calculated that launching an attack with three laps remaining would be enough to secure victory while complying with the regulations.
Why Was Marc Márquez’s Performance So Remarkable?
1. Reconstructing Strategy While Maintaining Top Pace
With 26 laps in the race and the regulation requiring tire pressure compliance for at least 16 laps, Márquez had to make swift calculations. By lap seven, he positioned himself behind Álex, ensuring he would have enough compliant laps before attacking in the final three laps. His execution was flawless, securing victory after a calculated push.
“I stayed behind Álex for the required number of laps before launching my attack. I had the speed to implement this strategy today.”
2. Executing Strategy Under Extreme Conditions
The Thai GP weekend was marked by intense heat, with track temperatures reaching 50°C and ambient temperatures at 36°C. Some riders even reported burns from the engine heat. Enduring nearly an hour in these conditions, Márquez not only rode at peak performance but also recalculated his race plan in real-time and flawlessly executed it.
Is There Any Rider on Márquez’s Level?
As a motorcycle enthusiast who has ridden in similar extreme conditions, I can confidently say that what Márquez did was beyond exceptional. His ability to strategize, adapt, and win under such conditions solidifies his status as an unparalleled MotoGP talent.
After retiring, Cal Crutchlow once remarked, “If Márquez goes on a Ducati, the rest may as well not turn up.” At one point, it seemed like Márquez’s era was fading, but his bold decision to leave Repsol Honda and join Gresini Racing reignited his career. Watching him thrive with Ducati in 2024 was thrilling, and his dominant performance in the 2025 season opener in Thailand exceeded all expectations.
Márquez himself remains cautious about the season ahead:
“I felt great in Thailand, but things can change. I just want to enjoy the moment and keep this up throughout the season.”
As a MotoGP and Márquez fan, this season promises to be one of the most exciting yet.
（Photo courtesy of michelin）