Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has already ruled himself out of contention for the win at the Spanish Grand Prix, saying that he is not ready to fight Marco Bezzecchi.
MotoGP returns this weekend at Jerez after a month off, following the cancellation of the Qatar GP due to the conflict in the Middle East. The break came at the right time for Marquez, as he has been struggling physically in 2026.
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The effects of his 2025 shoulder injury are still plaguing him as he is without a Grand Prix podium this year. Marquez’s forearm injury in Austin could be a bigger issue, with the Spaniard showing off his wounds at the Spanish Grand Prix media centre.
Ducati have been strong at Jerez in the past, while Aprilia, who have won every race in 2026 through Bezzecchi, have never won at the circuit. It could be the perfect place for Marquez to return to form, but he is not as optimistic.
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Speaking via Motorsport Espana from Jerez, Marquez says he is now at an ‘optimal level’ with his physical condition. He hopes to enjoy riding the GP26, but he admits that he is not in a position to battle with Bezzecchi at the front.
“We’ve had three full weeks at home, and I think that’s been good for me to try and take another step forward. I can say that I’m at an optimal level to compete at my best,” he said.
“We’ll see this weekend, but physically I think I’ve reached an acceptable level so that we’re no longer talking about my physical condition, but about my performance on the track.
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“That might not mean going faster or slower, scoring more or fewer points, which I hope it will, but at least it means I’ll enjoy myself more on the bike, because you can’t enjoy it with discomfort and pain.
“I’m not in a position to stop Bezzecchi, but I think, for example, Jorge Martín is more in that position. I haven’t even had a podium finish on Sunday this year, so with that, you can’t expect to win a race right now.
“We’ll try to build a good weekend. We’ve seen with Bezzecchi, who led every lap, that the Aprilias are very fast, but let’s see if little by little we can take steps and get closer to them. That will be the goal.”
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It has not been a good start to the season for the defending champion. His injuries limited his time on the bike over the winter, and he is not comfortable with the machine during the season.
Aprilia have taken a huge step forward in 2026, with Bezzecchi and Martin looking like the force of the field after the first three races.
Marquez admitted that Bezzecchi is ‘unstoppable’ after he dominated proceedings at COTA. He feels the same way at Jerez, but there is optimism that he could potentially fight for his first podium of the season.
Giacomo Agostini thinks Marquez’s ‘real’ championship will start at Jerez this weekend. It is a track he knows well and one that Ducati are strong on, but Aprilia will be no easy contest.
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