Marco Bezzecchi
The Grand Prix of the Americas will be a massive weekend for Marc Marquez as he is no longer ‘unbeatable’.
After two rounds of the 2026 MotoGP season, the paddock is on its way to the United States of America for the Americas Grand Prix, a round that has become known for one rider’s dominance.
In the past, Marc Marquez has won seven Grands Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, but will his reign come to an end after what we have seen in the opening two rounds of 2026?
At the Thailand Grand Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix, Marquez has been a threat on Saturday as he has finished second and first in the Sprint Races. However, on Sunday, he has not looked like his normal self, as he has not featured on a Grand Prix podium as of yet.
With Marco Bezzecchi having won both the Thailand and Brazilian Grands Prix, all the pressure is on Marquez to return to his top-class standard in America, but to do so he must overcome Bezzecchi, who is making life look easy on his Aprilia RS-GP.
After being ‘unbeatable’ in 2025, Marquez no longer looks up to the standard that he showed last year, and this weekend will be a make-or-break weekend for Marquez and his hopes at a 10th title.
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Carlo Pernat believes the Americas GP will be a ‘litmus test’ for Marquez
After witnessing the start for Bezzecchi and Aprilia, Carlo Pernat has also voiced his concerns for Ducati and Marquez, as he believes the Spaniard’s slow start to the year has been due to his recovery.
However, he also stated when talking to GPOne, that the Americas Grand Prix will be Marquez’s ‘litmus test’ after failing to feature on a Grand Prix podium in Thailand or Brazil.
Pernat says, “But, if we look closely at how things are at Ducati, they have a rider, Marc Marquez, who has some physical problems. But in the end, he will get sorted, maybe his litmus test is the race on next Sunday.
“In Austin, Marc has always won, except for last year when he fell, and he is unbeatable. If he does not win there, and let’s Bezzecchi beat him, then we will have to start thinking that the championship will be different than expected.”
Who is going to win the Americas Grand Prix?
Explain your choice in the comments!
The other MotoGP riders are no longer ‘afraid’ of Marc Marquez
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marquez went head-to-head in both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix, after losing out in the Sprint, Di Giannantonio beat Marquez in a head-to-head battle in the Grand Prix.
After witnessing the Italian rider beat Marquez, Pernat believes this showed that Di Giannantonio is ‘not afraid’ of Marquez.
Pernat said, “He fought well with Marquez even if Marquez was not right. But he fought well, overtook him again and showed he is not afraid. That is a good thing, which will make him grow.”
Marquez himself has also admitted that Aprilia are one step ahead of Ducati, as after the Brazilian Grand Prix, he said, “What was I lacking? Speed. We’re in MotoGP. If you don’t have speed, you’re missing that little bit.”
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