Alex Márquez is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer who competes in the MotoGP World Championship for Gresini Racing. He gained public attention in May 2026 after being hospitalized with a fractured vertebra and broken collarbone following a terrifying high-speed crash during the Catalan Grand Prix, forcing the race to be red-flagged.
Quick Facts
Full Name: Alejandro Márquez Alentà
Age: 30 (born April 28, 1996)
Nationality: Spanish
Occupation: MotoGP Rider
Known For: 2014 Moto3 World Champion; 2019 Moto2 World Champion; younger brother of Marc Márquez
Marital Status: Not confirmed
Children: Not confirmed
Early Life and Background
Alex Márquez was born in Cervera, Spain, the younger brother of eight-time world champion Marc Márquez. Following in his brother’s footsteps, he began riding at a very young age. He was crowned the Catalan 50cc champion at just 12 years old and finished third in the Catalan 125cc championship in 2010 before making his debut in the Moto3 World Championship in 2012.
Career and Achievements
Alex carved his own path to glory independent of his brother’s shadow. He won the Moto3 World Championship in 2014, securing the title with a third-place finish at the final round in Valencia. After moving up to Moto2, he became the first rider since 2005 to win the intermediate class championship in his rookie season, taking the 2019 Moto2 World Championship.
Promoted to MotoGP in 2020, Alex initially struggled on the Honda, finishing 14th in his debut season. He moved to Gresini Racing on a Ducati in 2023, where he secured his first MotoGP podium. His 2024 season was his best to date, finishing 6th overall . As of the 2026 season, Alex Márquez has 9 Grand Prix wins across all categories.
Why He Is In the News
Alex Márquez is in the news after a violent collision at the Catalan Grand Prix on May 17, 2026. On the fourth lap of the race, Márquez ran into the back of KTM rider Pedro Acosta, who had suddenly lost power on the track. The impact launched Márquez through the air, crashing heavily onto the tarmac before his body violently cartwheeled across the gravel trap.
Medical staff rushed to the scene, and he was immediately transported to a local hospital. Scans confirmed “a marginal fracture on the C7 vertebra at the base of his neck, as well as a fracture on his right collarbone”. He is scheduled to undergo surgery. Following the crash, his brother Marc Márquez posted a simple message on social media: “Today I only give thanks,” referring to Alex’s survival.
Conclusion
Alex Márquez is a two-time world champion who has consistently proven his talent in the shadows of his legendary brother. His racing career is now on hold following a harrowing accident in Barcelona, with the MotoGP community rallying behind him as he begins his recovery from a fractured neck and shoulder.
