It can’t have been a very pleasant Sunday morning in the Valentino Rossi household. Not only did the nine-time world champion have to watch his prize VR46 rider Pecco Bagnaia get beaten twice by new factory Ducati team-mate Marc Márquez, he also had to watch him get beaten twice by Alex Márquez, riding for the independent Gresini Ducati team, which last year gave the elder Márquez a way out of his Honda hell.
Bagnaia has rarely looked as forlorn as he did in the post-race media conference – sat there deep in thought, while the world’s media directed most of their questions at the two riders sat beside him, who, after all, had just made history: never before had two brothers finished first and second in a premier-class grand prix.
“It’s like a dream,” said Alex, who nearly proved what his brother has always been saying – he’s the fastest Márquez. “We need to work to keep this dream for longer, so we will do our maximum. We will try to enjoy as we do normally in our training plan and all that. With all the work, it’s super-nice to see that the results are there. Super-nice. No words to describe how you feel when you are on a podium with your brother.”
