Marc Marquez: "Screw them" after claims he delayed…

Factory Ducati rider Marc Marquez has rubbished suggestions that he deliberately gave up victory in the Catalan Grand Prix to delay sealing the 2025 MotoGP title.

On Saturday in last weekend’s Barcelona round, Marc Marquez had reached a 187-point lead at the top of the world championship standings, which at that point gave him a chance to win his ninth title at this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix.

However, on Sunday, Alex Marquez, second in the overall standings, won the race, cutting the gap to under 185 points (183), which was the threshold for having a chance to secure the championship at Misano this weekend. This led many to speculate that Marc Marquez was happy not to risk tying Valentino Rossi’s title record on his home turf.

“To those who think I didn’t win at Barcelona so as not to clinch the title at Misano, screw them,” said the Ducati rider ahead of the San Marino event, quickly putting an end to the matter.

“At Barcelona, I was more serious than ever, because I put myself in ‘eco mode’ there due to all the commitments you have to face.

“I tried to get ‘match point’ [for Misano], but I couldn’t because there was a rider who was faster on Sunday. I want to close [the championship] as soon as possible, because that will mean we continue on the same path. These races are already preparation for 2026.”

Alex Marquez also responded to critics in similar fashion, saying: "Nothing else to add. I'm really not going to waste a second of my time answering this; there are people who just talk for the sake of talking.

"Whatever I do, something will always be said, there will always be someone who questions my success. Why did I win in Moto3? Why did I win in Moto2? Why did I move up to MotoGP? That's what Marc says: screw them."

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team (Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images)

The Barcelona track is one at which Marc Marquez does not feel as comfortable as most and where, on the contrary, Alex Marquez is a true specialist. This weekend, at Misano, the tables will turn.

“I want to beat Alex here,” he continued. “Theoretically, this circuit is more favourable for my riding style.”

The eight-time world champion added a warning that it might be more than a family duel, however: “I don’t think the KTMs are far off. Let’s see if we can be up there.”

Marc Marquez will leave Misano with a chance of becoming champion in Japan if he scores three more points than Alex Marquez this weekend.

“Now I think it’s possible to have match point in Japan, but not so much to clinch the title there,’” he said, before adding another cautious comment. “Once you win the title, you have more confidence, less concentration and, as a result, there are more mistakes.”