Marco Bezzecchi
2026 could well be the year that Marc Marquez pulls clear of Valentino Rossi in the MotoGP history books, in the title column, at least.
For the first time in six years, he has a championship to defend, and he should have a bike capable of being at the top.
It all depends on how well Ducati have developed the GP26 throughout the winter, but they have known for some time where they must improve their bike.
With Aprilia breathing down their necks, Marquez will undoubtedly face more competition over the next 12 months, but he’s probably about as prepared as anyone could be to face it (experience-wise).
Marc Marquez won 69.44% of races he finished in 2025. What should MotoGP do to make racing more unpredictable?
Jack Miller saw that Marquez was happier after leaving Honda to join Gresini in 2024. It was a bold move which has helped to define his career.
MotoGP fans think Bezzecchi is Marquez’s new rival for the title, instead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia, after a turbulent 2025. It’s still quite tough to predict, though.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal shares the changes he’s seen in Marc Marquez after his MotoGP injury nightmare
Davide Tardozzi knows Ducati ‘must improve’ their mindset for Marc Marquez in 2026
Luigi Dall’Igna is willing to wait before signing Marquez for 2027, even though his contract is going to expire before the end of the year. That doesn’t seem to faze his current team, though.
That’s because after one season together, they already have a really close bond. It has led Davide Tardozzi to point out one area they ‘must improve’ already.
“All our engineers love Marc and how he speaks with them,” he said in Mat Oxley’s Marc The Magnificent biography. “He always has a huge positivity, so whenever there’s a problem, he always underlines the positive areas of the bike – in this area we are good, but we must improve in that area.
“That’s very different from some riders who just say that the bike doesn’t work. He underlines where he can push more because the bike is good, and where we can improve the bike to make him faster.”
Marquez is prepared to be ‘risky’ to keep winning in the premier class, but it’s the same approach he has always taken.
It’s a little dangerous this year, mainly because he’s recovering from a major collarbone injury. Reaggravating it could have consequences.
READ MORE: Marc Marquez told what trait he shares with Mick Doohan after leading Ducati to MotoGP success
Why Marc Marquez could be in his best form in 2026
Marquez learned everyone’s names in three weeks at Ducati and is now embedded well within the team. He has adjusted to his new surroundings.
That’s one of the main reasons why he will be such a tricky opponent in 2026. He’s comfortable and knows how everything works at Ducati now.
Coming back from injury will require some patience, but when he breaks through it and starts winning again, it’ll be hard to stop him.
After all, it’s the final year of the current regulation cycle, and he doesn’t know whether he’ll ever be in this position again. What does he have to lose?
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