Marco Bezzecchi
Nobuatsu Aoki believes Gresini’s Alex Marquez proved that he will be a MotoGP title contender in 2026 during the Sepang test, as he was fast without looking like he was.
The 29-year-old set the overall fastest lap of the week and the best Sprint Race pace as the paddock gathered for the first time in 2026 in Malaysia at the start of February. Marquez set a 1:56.402 on the last of the three days, as well as averaging 1:58.027 during his Sprint sim.
Gresini rider Marquez appeared to make full use of riding a factory-spec Ducati GP26 at the Sepang test. Ducati have given Marquez a works-spec bike in 2026 as a reward for finishing second to his brother, works rider Marc Marquez, in the 2025 championship aboard a GP24.
The 2025 MotoGP season was the best year of the younger Marquez brother’s premier class career so far. Alex Marquez also scored his first MotoGP Grand Prix win at Jerez in 2025 and he also won the Catalan and Malaysian GPs plus the Sprints in Britain, Portugal and Valencia.
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!
Nobuatsu Aoki could not believe Alex Marquez’s Sepang test lap times as he did not look fast
Now, Aoki expects Marquez will carry his form from the 2025 season into 2026 and rival his brother Marc for the title, given they are now on the same bike. Alex has never fought for a premier class title, as his 2025 campaign never came close as Marc took 11 Grand Prix wins.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Marquez from net worth to career stats
Aoki believes what has cemented Alex’s status as a 2026 title threat to Marc in Sepang was how fast he rode, despite looking “strangely relaxed”. Former Suzuki 500cc rider Aoki could not quite believe the lap times that Alex produced after seeing how he was riding the GP26.
Aoki told Young Machine: “Alex Marquez is a bit scary. Alex recorded the fastest time overall over all three days, but he seemed strangely relaxed.
“Watching him ride, I thought, ‘Yeah, he’s relaxed. That’s good! (But he doesn’t seem that fast?)’. But he actually recorded solid times.
“The fact that he’s able to record times even though he doesn’t look fast is proof that he’s riding in a truly relaxed manner, which is quite difficult to do on a racing bike…
“Alex’s level of relaxation was outstanding. He had a great balance of when to apply and release force, and was riding in ideal conditions. And what’s more, it led to the fastest time, so there’s nothing to complain about.”
Nobuatsu Aoki has heard that Alex Marquez surprised KTM by visiting their factory
Aoki is not alone in backing Alex Marquez to fight for the 2026 MotoGP title after what they saw him produce during the Sepang test. Three-time premier class champion Jorge Lorenzo believes Marquez’s pace “surprised everyone” in Sepang and confirmed his title credentials.
Marquez might even follow Jorge Martin by winning the MotoGP title on a factory Ducati for a satellite team and then leaving the Italian factory’s stable entirely. It is said that Marquez is close to finalising a switch to KTM for 2027 after Ducati made it clear they did not want him.
READ MORE: Each 2026 MotoGP rider’s contract length and wage, including Alex Marquez
KTM’s Pit Beirer thinks Alex Marquez deserves a factory seat… do you agree?
KTM have sought to hold negotiations with Alex Marquez as it appears very likely that Pedro Acosta will take the second factory Ducati seat next to Marc Marquez in 2027. Alex also sees the works KTM team as an ideal move, and is even said to have already visited their factory.
Aoki has also heard the rumours regarding Marquez visiting the KTM factory to close in on a move for 2027. He even suggests the Spaniard surprised the KTM workforce in Munderfing with his visit to the Austrian brand’s MotoGP factory at the start of 2026 to explore a move.
“It’s just a rumour but there’s no smoke without fire,” Aoki said. “When the new year came around and the KTM staff went to the factory to assemble a new machine, they found Alex Marquez there, or something like that. So, there was bound to be smoke.”
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