Marc Marquez is confident the 2025 MotoGP title fight “will start in Europe” considering Francesco Bagnaia’s unexceptional start to the season.
The Spaniard produced back-to-back Sprint and Grand Prix wins in Thailand and Argentina, consequently claiming the maximum 74 points thus far.
In comparison to his teammate, Bagnaia is sitting third in the standings behind Gresini rider Alex Marquez.
The Italian’s start to the 2025 season is a key talking point considering his teammate is immediately up to speed on his GP25 Bologna machine.
Despite facing a 31-point deficit after two races already, Marquez admitted that he expects Bagnaia to be back in contention at Jerez onwards, the fifth round of the championship.
“I see him as strong,” Marquez stated to GPOne on Thursday ahead of the race weekend in Texas.
“It’s clear, in this beginning of the championship he had some difficulties but the real championship will start in Europe.
“He already got some points in the first race, but there we will clearly see the level of each of us.
“Personally, I see him well and calm, and although he is not comfortable with the bike he is still always on the podium.
“So I think he will be a rival in every race and a rival for the title this year.”
Marquez’s goal is to ‘stay focused’
The 32-year-old is expected to extend his championship lead at this weekend’s round in Texas, given his past dominance, which has seen seven victories.
He admitted feeling the weight of expectation on his shoulders for the weekend, but reminded himself of the 2019 race, where he crashed out despite holding a comfortable lead.
“It’s clear that we have started the championship in the best possible way,” Marquez expressed.
“With each session the feeling on the bike is improving. I feel comfortable both on the track and with the team which is important.
“We have to stay focused though, because for example in my best season in MotoGP in 2019, I made my only mistake on this very track.
“I know that the expectations on me are getting higher and higher race after race, and the results in the past weekends didn’t help.
“I think it’s better to face expectations than doubts. That’s why I was remembering 2019, I always try to think about the negative side as well to avoid problems and that overconfidence that can create obstacles for us.”
He added: “Tomorrow we will see our level and that of our opponents.
“As I often say, not everything is always under our control. We will have to try not to exaggerate and not to make mistakes.”
