CARLO PERNAT REJECTS CLAIM ALEX MARQUEZ HOLDS BACK AGAINST MARC

Alex Marquez’s performance at the San Marino Grand Prix has reignited a familiar debate about whether he is willing to race hard against his brother, Marc Marquez. The criticism intensified after Misano, where Alex finished second following a strong fight with Marc and Pedro Acosta. He crossed the line around six tenths behind Marc, marking his best result since his April win at Jerez. Despite the result, a section of fans and observers claimed Alex was deliberately holding back against Marc.

The backlash is not new. Last year, Alex was also targeted by supporters at Assen, who believed he did not make a serious attempt to challenge Marc during the Sprint. Marc later responded by criticising the fans and the media for that interpretation.

At Misano, the latest wave of scrutiny was met by former rider agent Carlo Pernat, who dismissed the idea that Alex avoids attacking his brother. Speaking via GPOne, Pernat praised Alex’s progress and argued that circumstances beyond his control limited his championship potential. He said he was “convinced” that, without the problem Alex suffered in Barcelona—an incident that caused him to miss “a couple of races” and return only recently—he would have been “comfortably” in the top four. Pernat added that Alex’s situation was similar to “last year,” suggesting his overall campaign would have been even stronger.

Pernat then directly confronted the “doesn’t attack” narrative. He called it “total nonsense,” saying Alex had tried to pass Marc but that Marc was able to pull away. Pernat’s argument relied on a comparison he described as a “paradox”: he pointed to Luca Marini’s past racing against Valentino Rossi. Pernat said that when Marini raced Rossi, the pair’s battles were not characterised by hesitation, and he suggested that if Luca had raced his brother Valentino, he would likely be “a little more careful.” Pernat also added a practical point about racing psychology—“when you are on track, you pull down the visor”—implying that riders focus on the race rather than personal relationships.

The discussion also referenced how Marini and Rossi competed together in 2021, when they fought mostly in the midfield and back of the field. Pernat noted that Rossi beat his half-brother by three points, while the two finished within one position of each other.

Marini’s own stance on the subject was also highlighted. Speaking via BikeSport News, he said he would “try to beat” Rossi, indicating he would not hold back simply because of the family connection. Across the 2021 season, Marini recorded nine wins over Rossi, underscoring that their on-track rivalry was competitive.

With Alex’s Misano result putting him back in the spotlight, the debate now circles around whether his racing approach against Marc is tactical caution or genuine restraint—and Pernat’s comments, along with Marini’s remarks about trying to win, were offered as evidence against the claim that Alex intentionally avoids challenging his brother.