Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez can’t ride with maximum ‘aggression’ and ‘energy’ as his arm continues to bother him, former rival Jorge Lorenzo says.
Marquez crashed out of the Spanish Grand Prix on just the second lap and now finds himself 44 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi. The Ducati rider had started on pole but he faltered shortly after losing the lead to his brother Alex.
Marquez’s 2025 season was ended by a shoulder injury at the Indonesian GP, and he still appears to be feeling the effects nearly six months later. The world champion fractured his shoulder blade and also damaged ligaments, forcing him to undergo surgery.
Marc Marquez has never come back from a deficit larger than 37 points
With the gap to Marco Bezzecchi now 44, are his title hopes over?
Jorge Lorenzo says Marc Marquez still needs to ‘recover that arm’
Speaking on DAZN, via Motosan, Lorenzo expressed concern over Marquez’s incomplete recovery. Both he and Ducati have acknowledged that he’s yet to regain 100% fitness.
Lorenzo saw his old teammate vigorously working out his arm before the United States GP last month, and even making unusual ‘gestures’ through the double right-hander of turns nine and 10 at Jerez.
Marquez is fifth in the championship after four rounds, with VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio leading the way among the Ducatis in third.
“He’s almost accepting the negative situation he’s in,” said Lorenzo. “Really, as I’ve said repeatedly this weekend, I don’t see him doing well. From the grid in Austin, he was making a lot of arm gestures, even [through] Nieto and Peluqui, he was making a lot of arm gestures.
Ducati are testing an eye-catching swingarm at the Jerez test 👀 Could this be what they need to put them back in front?
“I think Marc isn’t riding comfortably, he’s not fast, he lacks rhythm, and he’s even struggling to be the fastest Ducati rider. Di Giannantonio has had some duels that Marc has won, but overall he’s been more consistent.
“The first thing Marc needs to do is take it step by step, recover that arm so he can ride with much more aggression, much more energy, and be faster overall.”
MotoGP journalist Mat Oxley says Marquez is holding his arm awkwardly in press briefings, a clear sign of his discomfort.
Meanwhile, future teammate Pedro Acosta says something is clearly not right with Marquez as his slump continues.
Jorge Lorenzo’s ‘bleak’ outlook on the 2026 world championship
Bezzecchi finished second at Jerez, extending his gap over teammate Jorge Martin to 11 points. He is 30 clear of his nearest external challenger Di Giannantonio.
Though Ducati won their first race of 2026 through Alex Marquez, Lorenzo says Aprilia could dominate this year’s championship.
Ducati know that Monday’s Jerez test is crucial in altering the course of their season, with the factory team now on their longest podium drought since 2014 (nine races).
“I see this championship as very bleak, not in a negative sense,” said Lorenzo. “Ducati needs to come up with something.
“I think they need to come up with something that gives them at least a tenth of a second less, or even more speed, if not two. And Marc needs to recover from that arm injury.
“Otherwise, Bezzecchi will continue to dominate, and even if Bezzecchi were to get injured, he also has Martin, who’s second in the championship and very fast. So, if Ducati wants to stop Aprilia’s dominance, they have to make some changes to the chassis, the engine, or the electronics.”
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