Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has yet to appear on a Grand Prix podium in 2026, while Marco Bezzecchi has hogged the top step during the first two race weekends. Still, Aprilia ambassador Max Biaggi thinks the Spaniard remains the title favourite.
The overriding sentiment heading into the 2026 season-opener in Thailand was that the reigning world champion, Marc Marquez, would be up to his usual antics and likely dominate the rest of the field for the eighth time in his career.
However, since the meaningful sessions started in Buriram, it’s clear that Marco Bezzecchi won’t go down without a fight. In fact, the Italian rider is the one who is taking the fight to his rival, with Marquez struggling in the longer format Grands Prix due to fitness concerns.
Has Ducati’s dominance in MotoGP finally come to an end?
Marquez was furious with his result in Brazil at the weekend, as detailed by Neil Hodgson, with his lack of strong results likely to be the reason. Despite the Spaniard’s back now being against the wall, Max Biaggi is still confident that he’s the man to beat this year.
- READ MORE: Marc Marquez is adopting a very different approach to 2025 to fix Ducati’s GP26 stability problems
Max Biaggi explains why Marc Marquez is still his favourite for the 2026 MotoGP title
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport after the conclusion of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Biaggi was asked for his thoughts on the title race amid Bezzecchi’s current dominance over the premier class.
Asked if the Italian rider is now the clear favourite for the MotoGP crown this year, the six-time Grand Prix world champion said, “Ducati and Marquez are the champions and therefore the favourites. Beating Marc is difficult, and if he has the best bike, it becomes even more difficult.
“Bezzecchi is succeeding now, but we need to understand if Marc is having difficulties that we’re not aware of, because he’s not making that much of a difference.
“Bezzecchi and Martin are going strong now, but only from the first European GP, in Jerez, will we see their true strengths and understand who is ahead.”
True or false? Ducati’s dominance will come to an end in 2026.
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Biaggi also noted how crucial it is for Bezzecchi to keep up his fine form in the early stages of the campaign, adding, “I hope he’s ready to maintain this strong pace until the end of the year.
“In that case, the last two or three races, at the height of the championship, would be very interesting.”
- READ MORE: Fabio Di Giannantonio ‘picked up a lot of ideas’ on how to beat Marc Marquez during Brazil GP duel
Max Biaggi thinks the upcoming Americas Grand Prix will shed more light on Ducati’s true pace
Amid an uncharacteristic dry spell for the Spaniard, Marquez will be encouraged by the next stop on the MotoGP calendar being the Americas Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.
Marquez has won in Texas on seven separate occasions, but hasn’t made the trip to the top step of the podium since 2021.
Asked if the upcoming Grand Prix will be somewhat of a litmus test for the pecking order of the grid, Biaggi said, “Marquez always plays a different sport there: if he doesn’t crash, he wins, and if he wins, he wins by a wide margin.
“But if he can’t do that on Sunday, then the problem will become clear. Jerez will be the starting point to fully understand the bikes’ level, but next weekend will provide some insights into Ducati’s and our exact position.”
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