Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati have started the 2026 MotoGP season on the back foot to Aprilia and Marco Bezzecchi, but Davide Tardozzi has assured Borgo Panigale’s tifosi that some upgrades are on the way for Marc Marquez and co.
Bezzecchi’s composed ride at the Brazilian Grand Prix marked his fourth consecutive MotoGP race weekend where he has led Sunday’s race without relinquishing the lead from start to finish.
The finishing order in Goiania also marked Aprilia’s first one-two in the premier class since 2023, with Jorge Martin securing his first appearance on the rostrum in black since joining the Italian outfit last year.
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While it was Aprilia who dominated in Brazil, things certainly looked more optimistic for Ducati than they did after the season-opener.
After Marc Marquez took his first win of 2026 in the Sprint on Saturday, Fabio Di Giannantonio got his own back on the factory Ducati rider by claiming their first Grand Prix podium of the year.
Davide Tardozzi reveals Ducati’s upgrade plan for the 2026 MotoGP season
During his post-race debrief with the media in Brazil, Davide Tardozzi offered his congratulations to Aprilia for their impressive start to the 2026 MotoGP campaign before teasing what Ducati have in store as a response to Noale’s emerging dominance.
Speaking via Marca, the team manager of Ducati’s MotoGP operation said, “Aprilia deserves sincere congratulations because the quality of their work is clear for all to see, given the strong performance of all their riders.
“From Austin onwards, we want to step up our game and compete in the Grand Prix as well, not just the Sprint. I have every confidence in Gigi Dall’Igna and his technical team.
“We will bring some new developments to the Jerez test, scheduled for the Monday following the Grand Prix, and see if they help us improve our performance.”
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Keen-eyed former premier class competitor Sylvain Guintoli spotted that Ducati were working on an aero upgrade during a private test last week.
Aprilia’s strong suit is known to be in the aerodynamic efficiency of the RS-GP26, while Ducati have become renowned for their best-in-class power unit.
A step forward in the aero department would certainly see them close the gap to the Noale-based outfit as Bezzecchi looks set to hog the top step of the podium for the rest of the year.
The upcoming Grand Prix of the Americas is one of Marc Marquez’s strongest circuits
A more forthcoming boost that Ducati may get in the premier class is the fact that the upcoming Grand Prix of the Americas takes place at a circuit that Marquez has been utterly dominant at in the past.
The seven-time MotoGP world champion has won at the circuit a record seven times, including six on the bounce during his first six years in the premier class.
Only Alex Rins has managed to secure more than one win at the circuit due to Marquez’s dominance in Texas, but the Spaniard hasn’t actually managed to take the chequered flag first there since 2021.
He was on his way to making it an eighth triumph at the Circuit of the Americas last year, but he ended up crashing out of the race on his own accord, which handed victory to Francesco Bagnaia instead.
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