Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez admits he is now “considerably slower”, especially in left-hand corners, because of his lack of feeling for the front end of the Ducati GP26 in the 2026 season.
The 33-year-old has been recognised throughout his career for being in a different league to his peers in left-hand corners. Marquez made carrying vastly more speed through left-hand turns his trademark asset, and it made him nearly unbeatable at tracks like the Sachsenring.
Marquez has won the German Grand Prix a premier class record nine times, including every year from 2013 to 2019. The Spaniard even won the 125cc event at the Sachsenring in 2010 and the Moto2 race in 2011 and 2012. But Marquez heads to Le Mans this year out of form.
Ahead of this week’s French GP, Ducati have yet to see Marquez take a Grand Prix podium in 2026. Marquez won the Sprint Races in Brazil and Jerez during the first four rounds, but has not finished a Grand Prix higher than fourth. He also crashed in the Spanish GP last time out.
Who is going to win the French Grand Prix?
Marc Marquez is ‘struggling’ in fast corners without a feeling for the front of the Ducati GP26
Crashing out of P2 on the second lap of the Grand Prix at Jerez has seen claims emerge that Marquez cannot cope with the increased cornering speeds seen in 2026. He has also noted his lack of feeling with the front end of the Ducati GP26 across the early rounds of the year.
READ MORE: 2026 French Grand Prix predictions, including Marc Marquez’s chances to win
Speaking at Le Mans on Thursday, Marquez admits that his lack of a feeling with the GP26 is causing him to struggle the most in fast corners, and “especially” in left-hand turns. He did not face the same issues with the GP25 as he won the 2025 title with 11 wins from 18 starts.
Marquez told AS: “Well, I’m noticing it more in fast corners. That’s where I’m struggling the most, especially in left-hand corners, where I’m going considerably slower than last year.
“But it’s the combination of everything. So, you try to find time elsewhere, you put that aspect under more scrutiny. But it’s true that if I want last year’s bike, I have it.
“That’s where I have to keep working to improve it, because if I want to find that feeling from last year through the bike, I have those parts and I have everything I had last year. So, I have to keep working.”
Johann Zarco could not understand Marquez’s speed in left-hand corners even when he saw the Spaniard’s data during his time at Honda. The Frenchman saw clear differences between his data at LCR and Marquez’s in the factory HRC team, and the trait followed him to Ducati.
A year ago after the Spaniard joined the factory Ducati team, Francesco Bagnaia revealed he had a “pact” with Marquez to learn his secrets in left-hand corners in return for helping with right-hand turns. While Marquez is fast in right-handers, they have never been his strength.
Marquez will now hope that the work that he and Ducati put in at the 2026 Jerez test helps, having left the test feeling rather positive. After trialling a number of options, Marquez felt Ducati found “several solutions” at the Jerez test that might be raced at Le Mans this week.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
