First brothers, then champions: the Márquez Alentà feat in MotoGP that transcends the world of sport

The Márquez Alentà brothers are already preparing for the celebration they owe each other at the end of the month in Cervera. Marc, the newly crowned world champion, is doing so between rehabilitation sessions and gym workouts after injuring his cursed right arm in Indonesia. Álex, the runner-up and the first of the mortals, as his father says, is enjoying himself without pressure on the bike in the last two Grand Prix of the season. This weekend at the Portuguese GP, and the following weekend, the return to Valencia after the recent storm, where they will take to the podium together in their finest attire and share another unique moment. A picture for the living room. November 22nd will be the day of the grand finale in the streets of their hometown, where they will celebrate their unprecedented double victory at the pinnacle of MotoGP with friends, family, and fans.

“It’s a source of pride to see Marc and Álex so close, as always, now that they’re at the top. It’s not easy knowing they’re competing in a sport where only one can win and everyone is a rival. It’s wonderful, and we know that not all brothers are able to get along this well,” says Julià, the boys’ father , in a chat with EL PAÍS in the Portimão paddock . “Sometimes people ask us how they turned out this way, and we don’t have a clear answer. Of course, we’ve tried to raise them as well as we know how, but like all parents, we’ve probably made some mistakes. The most important thing is that their behavior is exemplary, both on and off the track, and as a family, we couldn’t ask for more,” he adds.

The Márquez brothers aren't the first to share glory in the elite of their sport, but their feat transcends their achievements on the track. “The image of sportsmanship they've shown the world is admirable. It's not easy to have such a good relationship as theirs when it involves a title rival. Even though they're brothers, there are always tense moments, because there's so much at stake on the track and the adrenaline is running high,” says Aleix Espargaró, who shared the grid with his brother Pol for many years. “Just getting to MotoGP is incredibly difficult, but to dominate as they both have this year is historic, a unique achievement. Even so, for me, the message of their feat is clear: you should never forget what comes first, which is family,” concludes the rider, now a Honda test rider.

“He’s as happy for me as I am for him, but we’re saving our energy for the party in Cervera,” the runner-up said about his first meeting with Marc after finishing the job at the Malaysian GP. “When you experience a moment like that, it’s hard to believe. It’s a strange feeling. We’ll realize what we’ve achieved in a few years, when we’re relaxed and have a beer in hand, watching the moment on TV from our sofas at home,” he added.

The Márquez brothers have secured six one-two finishes on Sundays, with five victories for Marc and one for Álex. Overall this season, Marc has dominated with 11 wins in 17 Grand Prix races, while Álex has added to his tally with three victories in his sixth MotoGP season. That's 14 wins under their combined name in a 22-race championship. “The truth is, we can't ask for anything more. We've enjoyed every moment this season, with several one-two finishes and podiums. And you have to know how to enjoy it, because it could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” the younger brother concluded.

Álex has said in the past what the Espargaró brothers or Luca Marini, Honda rider and brother of Valentino Rossi , also say about competing alongside their brothers: that many would love to be in their shoes. Marc has also emphasized this season that the benefits of this magnificent and exemplary fraternal relationship are not mutual. They understand and complement each other perfectly, as José Luis Martínez and José Carrión, their assistants on the track and best friends off it, well know.

The younger brother was there for the toughest moments of his older brother's injury ordeal, and he was the first to believe in the seven-time MotoGP champion's rebirth and reconquest this season. “Any other rider would have thrown in the towel, but he never gave up. I was convinced that when he recovered from his injuries and had a minimally competitive bike, he would be back fighting for wins and titles,” Álex recalled in Japan. Marc, in turn, has always firmly defended the talent and merits of a true champion in the intermediate categories, capable of bearing the weight of being “the brother of” his entire life: “If he had a different last name, he would be valued much more. Álex is capable of anything, and the story isn't over yet.”

Williams and Schumacher, mirrors with nuances

The Márquez brothers' relationship is comparable to that once shared by other sporting icons, although perhaps, for now, free of any notable clashes on the track. The Schumachers, for example, were also able to win at the pinnacle of motorsport. Michael, seven-time Formula 1 world champion , loved to be Ralf's mechanic as a child, Ralf being six years his junior. And this is quite a nod to the Márquez brothers' story, since Álex started in motorcycle racing wanting to be Marc's technician.

The Schumacher brothers, however, had a somewhat more tumultuous relationship as they grew up and crossed paths on the racetracks. “Michael sometimes switches off his brain,” Ralf once said after a daring overtake by his older brother in Monaco. “I wasn’t on a field trip,” the Kaiser retorted without hesitation. In 2001, at the Canadian Grand Prix, they achieved a historic one-two finish, a memory the younger brother still cherishes: “It was incredible, a unique feeling for us and our parents. We had a huge party that day.” In total, they achieved five one-two finishes and 16 podiums together throughout their respective careers.

In tennis, the Williams sisters also faced off on numerous occasions , matches in which they suffered psychologically from the strange mix of emotions that comes with going for victory against someone you always want to see win. “She’s your sister, and you want her to lose… it’s something that doesn’t sit well with the soul,” Serena, with 23 Grand Slam titles to her name, once acknowledged. They faced each other in 31 matches as professionals, with a record of 19-12 (9-3 in tournament finals) in favor of the younger sister. “The family factor was difficult to manage. There in front of me was my little sister, and of course I wanted her to win too,” recalled Venus, winner of 14 Grand Slams.

His recommendation for future parents, by the way, is to enroll their children in different sports, because among children “there can’t be healthy competition.” In the paddock , it’s clear that this view isn’t so widely accepted. Marc and Álex, for example, have never stopped enjoying competing together in anything: seeing who’s the fastest to reach the top on a bicycle, seeing who wins the next video game. And, of course, seeing who wins the next race. In 2026, they’ll be riding the exact same bike, and they love the challenge.