Securing Second Place with Late-Race Tire Management
Despite suffering significant rear tire wear in the final stages, Álex Márquez skillfully controlled the gap to Fabio Di Giannantonio and held onto second place. From the early laps, he calmly assessed the fierce battle between Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, maintaining an aggressive approach. Riding last year’s machine, he outperformed factory bikes—a performance that reflects his strong determination to steadily accumulate results while keeping the championship in sight.
Reflecting on strategy and tire wear in the final laps
“Of course, I was hoping for a win, but it wasn’t easy. Still, I secured valuable points. During the battle between Marc and Pecco, Pecco made a mistake at Turn 15, and at one point they were lined up on the main straight. I used the slipstream to close in and passed Pecco, pushing hard. That’s when I used up too much of my tire. I wore the rear tire down quite a bit, but in the final stages I was able to manage the gap with Fabio Di Giannantonio and hold on to second place. I got the points I needed, and maintained my advantage over Pecco.”
Avoiding contact and a near-retirement scare
“Marc and Pecco were battling really closely. When they touched, I had no choice but to pick the bike up and steer clear—ended up running into the green. I’m just glad I managed to stay on track. I could have been forced off and retired from the race. Still, being able to watch their intense battle from behind was quite a sight.”
Proud performance on a less competitive machine
“I struggled with pace in the latter half, but I was able to hold the gap to Fabio Di Giannantonio. I was a bit too cautious on the final lap. This is last year’s bike, which is technically inferior to the factory team's machines, but to finish ahead of both official Ducati riders—Pecco and Fabio—is something I’m proud of.”
Positive mindset with the championship in view
“Right now, I’m in the fight for the championship, and it’s easy to lose sight of that. But finishing second today is still a fantastic result, and I want to keep this momentum going.”