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Alex Marquez's MotoGP title challenge starting to 'unravel' after Hungary Sprint disappointment, says Neil Hodgson - 'Tomorrow is going to be tricky'
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Published 23/08/2025 at 15:35 GMT+1
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BK8 Gresini rider Alex Marquez could only manage eighth place in the Sprint race at the Hungary Grand Prix on Saturday. He now trails his brother, Ducati Lenovi's Marc Marquez, by 152 points in the race for the 2025 MotoGP title. Speaking to TNT Sports after the race, Neil Hodgson thinks that the younger Marquez brother's title challenge is starting to "slightly unravel."
Marquez eases to another Sprint win in Balaton Park's debut
Video credit: TNT Sports
Neil Hodgson believes that Alex Marquez’s MotoGP title challenge has started to "unravel" after an eighth-placed finish at the Hungary Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday.
The race was won by Ducati Lenovo’s Marc Marquez, Alex’s older brother, who cruised to a routine victory on a track where overtaking opportunities were at a premium.
It means the championship leader is the overwhelming favourite for another win in Sunday’s full-length race, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
BK8 Gresini rider Alex has endured a difficult few race weekends of late. He took second in the Sprint at Assen, but retired in the race the following day. He was then out of the points in 17th at Brno, and also retired from the Sunday event.
He was given a long-lap penalty for the Austrian Grand Prix after colliding with Joan Mir in Czechia. That saw him finish in 10th spot in Austria in the Sunday race, though he did claim second in the Sprint that weekend.
Here in Hungary, he has been given a three-place grid penalty for blocking riders in Friday’s practice, and he finished in eighth as he struggled to break free from the pack in a twisty Sprint race.
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Hodgson column: A perfect track needs five main elements, and Marquez has two rivals at Balaton Park
Marc Marquez's win moved him 152 points clear of his brother, and the chances of any other rider winning this year's title appear far-fetched at this stage of the campaign.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the race, Hodgson remarked that Alex’s challenge appears to have run out of steam.
He explained: "It’s started to slightly unravel for him. It started at Assen, then the crash at Brno, the penalty for Austria, which really affected him. Poor result today. Tomorrow is going to be tricky."
‘I was already riding in a very good way’
Fabio Quartararo caused panic at the start when he ran straight off at Turn 1 after failing to keep control of his bike, and was fortunate not to take out any other riders along with him.
That was the only moment of peril for Marc Marquez, and speaking after his win, he said he had been aware of problems behind him, but then focused on extending his lead.
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Marquez eases to another Sprint win in Balaton Park's debut
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marquez said: "I just heard somebody super close in the first corner. But from that point, I tried to keep my rhythm through the first lap.
"I was already riding in a very good way and then just tried to keep a constant pace, so that was enough to open a gap. So, yeah, happy.
"So now we need to analyse everything to understand the rear tyre for tomorrow. But part of that, we did a big step this morning. We were working super hard yesterday, and today I felt much better."
Stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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