'I doubt there is a bike that can challenge Marc Marquez at 22 races', says Alex

Aprilia may be inching closer, but Alex Marquez believes toppling Ducati won’t be that simple

Alex Marquez admits that while Ducati’s MotoGP rivals have made strides, he still doubts any manufacturer can consistently challenge the dominance of his brother Marc Marquez across an entire 22-race campaign.

Although Ducati has already secured all three world titles this season, its position as MotoGP’s benchmark has come under increasing pressure from Aprilia in recent rounds.

The Noale-based marque dominated proceedings in Indonesia at the start of this month and followed that up with a double win in Australia, marking what many see as the strongest and most sustained challenge Ducati has faced in years.

However, Marc Marquez has shown on a number of occasions that he can win the championship without having the fastest bike, using his experience and racecraft to outperform the machinery beneath him.

It’s that combination of the nine-time world champion’s ability and Ducati’s consistency that Alex Marquez believes still sets the Bologna marque apart from the rest.

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Photo by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Network

“I think the ones closest right now are obviously the Aprilias,” he said. “The best thing about Ducati is that, on weekends where we suffer a lot, like in Indonesia, Fermín Aldeguer ends up beating them. In Australia, we were very close to victory.

“So, like it or not, we have a very competitive bike, very well tuned, and Ducati is very clear about that for 22 races, which is what matters.

"It's true that there will be manufacturers that can make things very difficult for us on many race weekends, but I don't know if there is a bike ready yet to fight against a guy like Marc in 22 races.

“At Ducati, they're not resting on their laurels; they're continuing to work and they want to improve, because [the rest] are close behind. But I'm confident that Ducati will take another step forward next year. Above all, we mustn't lose a competitive bike in 22 Grand Prix races.”

Aprilia’s recent success has coincided with Marc Marquez’s injury-induced absence, with the Spaniard breaking his right shoulder in an opening-lap collision with Marco Bezzecchi at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Marquez was initially ruled out for this weekend’s Malaysia event, before Ducati confirmed that he would not race again before the end of the year.

Gresini rider Alex Marquez said his factory-mounted brother remains in “good spirits” and is in no rush to make a comeback, preferring instead to recover at home.

"The truth is, I don't ask him much about how he is, I let him be. He's fine, in good spirits, as far as can be expected,” said the Gresini rider.

“He nags me quite a bit about things he can see and things he can't see anymore. In Australia, he told me every day that getting up so early was hard, because he didn't miss a single practice session and wanted to be there.

“He's calm, which is the most important thing. Above all, he has the experience of the past, he knows he doesn't have to rush, he'll come back when he's 100 percent ready.”