Marco Bezzecchi
Neil Hodgson believes it is “hard to look past” Alex Marquez as the main challenger to Marc Marquez for the 2026 MotoGP title after watching the Gresini ace during testing.
The Marquez brothers made history last year, as they became the first siblings to secure first and second place in the standings during a premier class championship. Marc Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP title with a record five rounds to spare, while Alex ended up 78 points shy.
Marc Marquez missing the final four rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season through injury gave his younger sibling the chance to reduce his deficit to 78 points. Alex Marquez trailed by 201 points when Marc won the title in Japan, but scored the most points in the final five rounds.
Now, Hodgson is confident that Alex Marquez can build on his form from last year to emerge as Marc’s main title rival in 2026, having impressed during pre-season testing in Sepang and Buriram. Alex Marquez had the best race sim pace in Sepang and the third-best in Thailand.
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Alex Marquez’s pace in pre-season proved he will be Marc Marquez’s main 2026 title rival
Hodgson also believes Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati can return to form in 2026 to challenge Marc Marquez for the MotoGP title, and Aprilia pilot Marco Bezzecchi proved his credentials last year. But Alex Marquez’s pace in testing shows he is the top contender for Marc’s crown.
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“I think everyone agrees that Marc Marquez is starting the season as [the] favourite after his triumph in the previous campaign,” Hodgson told TNT Sports.
“There are a couple of challengers for his crown. I think after the two test weekends this season, Gresini rider Alex Marquez, his brother, is his main threat, but it’s not just him.
“Pecco Bagnaia, who had an awful time of things last year, definitely looks to have improved. And then Aprilia have made some big leaps forward, so I think that Marco Bezzecchi has thrown his hat into the ring as a real contender, too.
“But before the season, it’s hard to look past Alex as the main challenger to his older sibling. To some extent, those are the obvious answers.
“Bezzecchi showed flashes of his ability throughout the season. Alex was second overall, so it’s no surprise if he is strong again this season. As for Bagnaia, he’s a two-time MotoGP world champion, so we can never rule out a comeback.”
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Alex Marquez has admitted he “was not prepared” to fight for the 2025 MotoGP title, as the 29-year-old shot from fighting on the fringes of the podium positions at most to consistently setting his sights on the rostrum and challenging Marc, Bagnaia and Bezzecchi for race wins.
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The younger Marquez brother had only taken five podiums across his previous 89 starts, yet he scored 12 rostrums through 22 races in 2025. Alex Marquez also earned his first race win on home soil in Spain at Jerez last season, before winning in Barcelona and later in Malaysia.
Bagnaia only scored his first race win of 2025 in America after Marc Marquez crashed out of the lead. It took the two-time champion until the Japanese Grand Prix to secure his first win on merit last year, but it also proved to be his only race finish across the final seven rounds.
Now, Bagnaia is far more comfortable on Ducati’s 2026 bike and his speed in testing has put the Bologna Bullets’ rivals on red alert. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola suggested Ducati’s rivals could “go home” after seeing Bagnaia’s race pace in Sepang, where his consistency amazed.
But Bagnaia now has to prove in a real race scenario that he is actually back and able to give Marc Marquez a run for his money in the same garage. The Turin native trailed Marc by 267-points when his teammate won the 2025 title in Japan, and only reduced that deficit to 257.
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