Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez is looking ahead to 2026 after dominating the 2025 MotoGP season with Ducati.
The 32-year-old won 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprints on his way to his seventh premier class title and ninth overall. He wrapped up the championship at Motegi before suffering a season-ending injury in a crash at the following round at Mandalika.
Subsequently, Marquez will miss the Valencia test on Tuesday as he plots a return for the Sepang test next year. Ducati will certainly find it difficult with the Spaniard’s absence, especially given the form of the other factory riders.
Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio struggled to adapt to the GP25 this season, with Marquez being the only rider to find a feeling and extract performance. After the Spaniard’s injury in Indonesia, Ducati scored just two points on Sunday, courtesy of replacement rider Nicolo Bulega.
Marc Marquez says Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia have made ‘similar comments’ about Ducati’s GP26
Ducati have repeatedly stressed that there are minimal differences between the GP24 and the GP25, with this year’s bike being more focused on reliability. But for whatever reason, Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio have struggled, with the GP24 riders often showing better performance.
This is proven by Alex Marquez, who finished second in the standings behind his brother and was his closest challenger this season on the year-old bike. His performances have earned him factory spec machinery in 2026.
This is why Marc is ‘at ease’ with Ducati’s development for the GP26, as they have the riders to provide the right feedback at Valencia this week. Speaking to La Sexta, he says Alex and Bagnaia agree with him that next year’s bike has a good base.
“What reassures me is that nothing can be changed in terms of the engine next year,” he explained. “And aerodynamics issues have to be decided, but they can be rejected in the Malaysia test. If the bike works, it works for everyone, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t work for anyone.
“Both Alex and Pecco have made similar comments to mine. The current base works, and there won’t be many changes for next year, but by 2027 it will be a bit more of a lottery.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend
Will the Ducati GP26 be an improvement on its predecessor?
While Marquez has proven that the GP25 is a winning bike, it is clearly a step down from the GP24. Ultimately, only he has been able to ride the machine with maximum comfort.
Marquez knows he prefers the GP24, but he will not admit that to Bagnaia, because he knows that he is the only one who can ride the bike. His colleagues have constantly complained about the GP25 this season, emphasising the necessity to make changes for 2026.
Neil Hodgson is ‘confident’ about the Ducati GP26 and it being a better package than the 2025 spec. But the main question is whether it will be better than the GP24 and if Alex Marquez can keep up his performance levels on the factory machine.
According to Mat Oxley, the GP26 will be the GP24 ‘in all but name’, which would suggest that the bike will be an improvement on the current spec. Alex Marquez, Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio can put that to the test in Valencia on Tuesday.
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