The Italians are beginning to regret signing Marc Marquez

Marc Márquez has regained his smile 1,932 days later. That's how many days it's been since he was the leader of the World Championship for the last time. The rider from Cervera, after a difficult time at Honda and passing through a satellite team, signed for Ducati this year and his performance has been unbeatable. Pole position, victory in the sprint and victory in Sunday's race with the fastest lap. He has added the first 37 points of the year and is once again the leader of the World Championship, a position he has not held since winning his last title in 2019.

Nothing stops Márquez when he is in good physical shape and, above all, has a competitive bike. Not even a problem with the tyre pressure, which has made him lose the advantage he had at the start of the race and which has put his victory at risk. A calculating and patient strategist, he has been able to withstand the slipstream of his brother Àlex to overtake him with four laps to go and face the finish line alone.

It has been a Ducati weekend, but the first two positions have not been for the official team. Because Àlex Márquez has crashed the party. Riding the satellite bike of the Gresini team, he was already able to set the best time in Friday's practice session and had a chance of victory on Sunday. But above all, the youngest of the Márquez brothers kept Pecco Bagnaia at bay both in the sprint and in the main race. With Marc Márquez on the top step, Àlex in second place and Pecco in third, the podium in the race was identical to that of the sprint. Bagnaia, champion in 2022 and 2023, was just a few inches away.

Franco Morbidelli, fourth, completed a four-peat for Ducati in the World Championship opener. And Ai Ogura, with Aprillia, has shown that he is a rookie

After the debut in Thailand, Márquez leads the championship with 37 points, followed by his brother Àlex, with 29, and Bagnaia, with 23. The next Grand Prix will be in Argentina in two weeks.