Why Alex Marquez has been struggling in MotoGP this yr

Alex Marquez believes he’s “nonetheless lacking” the ultimate 20% from Ducati’s 2026 MotoGP bike, leaving some races feeling like a battle for “survival”

The Gresini rider has endured a subdued begin to the brand new MotoGP season, regardless of Ducati equipping him with the identical factory-spec equipment as Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio di Giannantonio.

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The Spaniard mustered simply 28 factors from the opening three rounds of the season, simply over half of what di Giannantonio scored at VR46 over the identical interval.

This has left him a distant eighth within the riders’ standings, a stark distinction to this stage of the 2025 season, when he was main the championship from his brother Marc.

Alex Marquez’s issues are multifaceted, nevertheless it’s clear that the GP26 doesn’t swimsuit his using fashion in the identical manner because the all-conquering GP24 did. That is regardless of Marquez opting to retain a number of parts from the 2024-spec Desmosedici, together with the aerodynamic configuration.

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Additional, the 29-year-old feels he’s “nonetheless fairly far” from extracting the utmost from his package deal, even after logging vital mileage throughout pre-season testing and the opening flyaway races.

“I’m nonetheless lacking perhaps 20%, I’m nonetheless fairly far,” he admitted in Austin. “Nonetheless, I am not feeling actually, actually good with the bike. It is true that the traits of this bike have an effect on my pure using fashion quite a bit.

“I’m simply attempting to outlive as a result of the sensation continues to be not likely, actually nice. So, simply attempting to attain some factors and never lose your head or do one thing unusual.”

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The youthful Marquez constructed his 2025 marketing campaign on consistency, scoring three wins and 12 podiums in Sunday races to complete runner-up within the standings.

Nevertheless, whereas di Giannantonio has been aggressive each weekend and has emerged as Ducati’s greatest points-scorer, Marquez has largely been restricted to the midfield.

The Gresini rider drew a clean within the Buriram season-opener and did not make a lot of an impression at both Goiania and Austin. His greatest outcome to this point is a fourth-place end within the US GP dash, which was aided extra by circumstances than outright tempo.

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Regardless of this, Marquez stays upbeat about his prospects for 2026 and hopes to make use of an sudden break within the schedule to reset.

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

“No, [it’s] not irritating,” he mentioned. “I’m extra keen to maintain working and to maintain giving my feedback. I’m extra motivated than ever to make the following step.

“I felt that it was shut however we have been lacking one thing. I feel this cancellation of Qatar shall be good for us. At the least to have just a little bit extra time to know the issues. Or to attempt to analyse the gadgets and to make one step extra in Jerez.

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“We’re getting nearer step-by-step. We’re working and we’re having a couple of issues that look constructive. So, I simply want to attend as a result of I am certain that we’ll arrive.”

Ducati’s weaknesses

Marquez’s begin to the season has additionally been influenced by Ducati’s personal aggressive struggles. Whereas the Borgo Panigale marque dominated a lot of 2025, it seems to have been leapfrogged by Aprilia within the pecking order.

Marquez defined that it has grow to be a lot tougher for Ducati riders to seek out the restrict of the bike this yr.

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“[Aprilia] have a variety of stability and a variety of grip. It seems to be like a low bike with a variety of stability and a variety of grip,” he admitted. “They’re higher than us and we have to preserve working.

“We’ve many actions. It is obscure till which level you may push, and till which level you’ll have an excellent grip.

“To seek out the restrict or to manage the restrict is so tough for us in the intervening time.”

With little to achieve within the early races, Marquez admitted that he was targeted on consolidating place at Austin moderately than taking huge dangers.

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“In the long run, I wasn’t in a position to assault, however this race is not precisely a strategic one, as a result of we’re not enjoying for something in the intervening time,” he mentioned. “It’s about scoring factors and getting probably the most out of it, not making errors.”

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