MotoGP Grand Prix Thailand ‘hammering’ by Marc Marquez should concern Ducati Lenovo team-mate Francesco Bagnaia

Sylvain Guintoli told TNT Sports that Ducati Lenovo rider Francesco Bagnaia will have found Marc Marquez's dominance at Grand Prix Thailand to be "alarming". His new team-mate finished first with his brother Alex in second behind him, and Michael Laverty said that the duo were able to work almost like team-mates despite being in different MotoGP teams.

Former Superbikes world champion Sylvain Guintoli said Marc Marquez’s dominance at Grand Prix Thailand would be "alarming" for Francesco Bagnaia.

Marquez’s debut weekend for Ducati Lenovo saw him complete a Sprint and regular race double, giving him the lead in the championship standings.

The Spaniard was in electric form and after being pipped to the title last season by Jorge Martin, Bagnaia has another serious contender to take on.

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Speaking to TNT Sports, Guintoli summarised: "The weekend has been a hammering, it’s been the Marc show. He’s been dominating. 

"Time attack, pole position, Sprint, and then the main race as well."

With two former world champions racing for the same team, there has been speculation that there could be friction down the line, with no obvious senior rider to be given preference.

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Guintoli suggested that the two are not ideal team-mates, and also said that the gulf in performance over the weekend could be a worry for the Italian, who is hoping to win his third world championship title this season after last year's disappointment.

He added: "What’s alarming for Pecco [Bagnaia] is he’s [Marquez] made it look easy. Marc is not the guy you want next to you... You don’t want that guy as your team-mate.

"I think Pecco was expecting it a little bit after winter testing, but not that much. Marc was really strong, and he hammered him today."

Laverty: 'There was only going to be one winner'

Alex Marquez took second place behind his sibling, and former rider Michael Laverty reflected on the unusual nature of two brothers succeeding, with both celebrating alongside each other at the end.

The winning brother said that the weekend was the "best of my life".

Laverty said: "Strange circumstances, but there was only going to be one winner. Two brothers, together one and two, were exceptional."

However, he thought that Bagnaia would be optimistic ahead of the weekend in Argentina in a fortnight, on a track that Laverty says favours his style.

He noted: "Bagnaia won’t be too downbeat, because the front tyre did not suit his riding style this weekend. He’ll focus on the positives, and he’ll want to come back swinging in a fortnight’s time in Argentina, a racetrack that suits his style better. 

"It’s never been a racetrack that suits Pecco [in Thailand], so I think there’s a long way to go in this tale, but at the moment it is the Marquez brothers in the driving seat."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Laverty: Marquez brothers will 'be working very closely together'

Laverty also praised Alex Marquez for his showing after a few years of inconsistent performances. He pointed out that the 28-year-old had been in strong form for several months now.

According to Laverty, Alex Marquez had looked a threat "since he jumped on this GP 24 Ducati. Strong in post-season, testing in Barcelona, carried it into Malaysia. Took it into the Buriram circuit, and he’s been so strong through the Buriram tests and into race weekend. 

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I think Alex will be here all season long, and he’s got a wingman in Marc. They were almost team-mates at Repsol. Even though they’re in different liveries, they’ll be working very closely together. 

"I think the one story in all that is that Pecco should probably have beaten Alex Marquez this weekend, but couldn't. That’s probably more of a kick for him. He would have wanted to be the best of the rest."

The next MotoGP race weekend takes place in Argentina, starting on Friday, March 14 - with the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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