Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP returns in 2026 this weekend in new surroundings with the Brazilian Grand Prix, but it could be the worst weekend to bounce back for Ducati and Marc Marquez.
The defending champions had a tough start to the season in Thailand, with Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia dominating proceedings. Many felt that the Noale outfit had closed the gap to their Italian rivals, and Buriram may have shown that they have overtaken them.
All four Aprilia riders were in the top five at the Thailand GP, while Fabio Di Giannantonio was the highest-placed Ducati in sixth, 16 seconds behind Bezzecchi. Franco Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia were eighth and ninth, while the Marquez brothers failed to finish.
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Marc Marquez suffered a rear rim failure on lap 21 when he hit the kerb at turn four and it exploded. He felt he could have fought for second if not for the incident, but the Aprilias and Pedro Acosta were proving tough competition.
After the race, Bagnaia claimed Aprilia are now faster than Ducati. Of course, it is too early to tell if that is really the case, but it is clear that they have taken a huge step forward and will be fighting at the front throughout 2026.
The Brazilian Grand Prix is an opportunity for Ducati to bounce back and get strong results on the board. With it being a new track, it is a tough challenge for everyone, but that is especially the case for Marquez.
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Goiania’s right-handers make it the worst track for Marc Marquez and Ducati to recover form
The Ant of Cervera needs a strong result in Brazil, given the pressure from Aprilia and Bezzecchi. However, many factors could prevent that at Goiania.
Firstly, Marquez is still not fully recovered from his crash in Mandalika last year. He was struggling with the right shoulder in Buriram and admitted after the race that he was not at 100%.
After a three-week break, the Spaniard should certainly be close to, if not at, 100% fitness in Brazil. But there will be questions as to whether he can perform at his best afterwards, with Jorge Lorenzo saying that Marquez will lose something after the injury.
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Then there is the circuit itself. Looking at the layout of the Goiania track, it could perhaps be described as ‘anti-Marquez’.
Of the 14 corners, nine are right-handers, many of which are consecutive. Typically, Marquez has struggled with right-handers, especially after his crash at Jerez in 2020.
His injuries from the accident and subsequent surgeries have weakened his ability to extract top performance through right-hand turns. If he is still not up to full fitness, it could be a difficult weekend for the Spaniard.
Marquez was Ducati’s top rider in Buriram by some distance, and given how far behind the rest were to Aprilia, if he is not at full fitness, the Borgo Panigale outfit could fall further behind their Italian rivals.
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