Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez made a positive start to his MotoGP title defence at the 2026 Sepang test, but Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi admits not everything was perfect in Malaysia.
The full MotoGP field assembled for the first time in 2026 at the Sepang International Circuit from Tuesday to Thursday to start testing. Sepang also marked the venue for Marquez to get on a Ducati MotoGP bike for the first time since having surgery on his shoulder last October.
Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP riders’ title with a record five rounds to spare, during round 17 of 22 in Japan. But he then suffered a coracoid fracture plus ligament damage to his right shoulder at the next round in Indonesia, after he was taken out by Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi.
A total of 121 days separated the race at Mandalika when Marquez sustained his injury and the first day of testing in Sepang. Ducati’s work during that period appears to have paid off, as Marquez believes Ducati’s 2026 bike “feels better” than the GP25 he dominated aboard.
What jumps out from the race simulations? ⏱️
Davide Tardozzi admits Marc Marquez’s Ducati was not ‘as smooth’ as their other bikes
But the 2026 Sepang test was not a flawless affair for the 32-year-old, even if he tried not to admit as much. After Marquez crashed on the third day of the 2026 Sepang test, a report by El Periodico claims he refused to discuss the issues that had impacted his final day on track.
READ MORE: Marc Marquez’s first MotoGP title with Ducati was defined by five moments
Marquez is renowned for wanting to protect his team and his preference to keep any issues in-house. So, the Spaniard tried to skirt around the ‘minor problems’ he encountered on the GP26 during the Sprint Race simulation runs, which Ducati team manager Tardozzi clarified.
El Periodico adds that Tardozzi ‘reluctantly’ opened up on Marquez’s problems at the end of the final day in Sepang. The Italian noted: “It wasn’t anything serious. But his bike wasn’t, in the end, as smooth as the other three factory Desmosedici bikes.”
Alex Marquez set the fastest lap time and Sprint sim average on Day 3 of the Sepang test
Alex Marquez tops the final day of the Sepang test! Are you expecting any changes to this order in Buriram? 🤔
Let us know in the comments below!
Ducati will have four factory-spec Desmosedici GP26 bikes on the grid in the 2026 MotoGP season, through works duo Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia plus Gresini ace Alex Marquez and VR46 star Fabio Di Giannantonio. Alex is the only new rider to receive a factory Ducati.
Ducati chose to give Alex Marquez a factory-spec bike for 2026 after he finished second in the 2025 riders’ standings behind his brother, Marc, whilst competing with a year-old GP24. Alex also used his GP26 to record the best average lap time amid the Sprint sims in Sepang.
Gresini saw Alex edge works Ducati racers Bagnaia and Marc’s 10-lap average lap times with a 1:58.027, compared to 1:58.166 and 1:58.289. Additionally, Alex ended the Sepang test on top with the overall fastest lap time set on Thursday with a 1:56.402, with Marc only fourth.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
