Álex Márquez cannot explain his surprising slump at the Valencia Grand Prix

Published on January 04, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Álex Márquez at the Cheste circuit with a frustrated expression after the MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix race

Álex Márquez Cannot Explain His Surprising Slump at the Valencia Grand Prix

The Spanish rider Álex Márquez experienced a day of contrasts at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste during the Gran Premio de la Comunidad Valenciana. After achieving a brilliant victory in Saturday's Sprint race, on Sunday he suffered an inexplicable collapse that relegated him from fighting for the win to finishing in a modest sixth position 🏍️

From Hero to Mystery in a Few Laps

The race started spectacularly for Márquez, who immediately moved into second place and began to put intense pressure on leader Marco Bezzecchi. His bike was responding perfectly and his confidence was palpable on every turn of the Valencian circuit. However, around the halfway point of the race, something changed radically without the rider himself being able to identify the exact causes.

Key Points of the Collapse:
  • Excellent initial pace keeping up with the leader's rear wheel
  • Progressive loss of competitiveness from lap 10
  • Inability to maintain the pace of the front-runners
"Sometimes in MotoGP the bike decides that today is not your day and turns you from hunter into prey without warning" - Reflection from the Gresini Racing team

The Post-Race Frustration

In statements to the media, Álex Márquez showed his total bewilderment at what happened. He admitted to trying different adjustments on the bike's controls during the race, but no solution managed to recover the initial performance. This situation was especially perplexing after his absolute dominance in the previous day's Sprint race.

Factors That Increased the Perplexity:
  • Brutal contrast with his Saturday performance
  • Lack of clear technical explanations from the team
  • Being overtaken by several rivals in the final phase

A Mystery to Be Solved

What happened to Álex Márquez in Cheste represents one of those sporting enigmas that demonstrate how unpredictable the world of MotoGP can be. The rider went from being a hunter to prey in a matter of laps, leaving more questions than answers about what really happened to his performance during Sunday's race 🤔