A
s MotoGP moved through last
summer, it was hard to find a
reason to tune in. Aside from
Marc Marquez's comeback story, there
was little else to excite fans. Yes, we
witnessed a historic sports accomplish-
ment, but there was no championship
fight to get excited about. Ducati kept
dominating every race, and the Catalan
was winning so easily that it was hard to
imagine anyone challenging him in 2026,
let alone the rest of 2025.
But here we are, eight months on, and
the prognosis is a good deal brighter.
While next to no one is questioning Mar-
quez's chances of adding a 10th crown
to his haul this year, there is a sense
he won't have it quite as easy in this
final season of the current regulations,
defined by 1000cc engines, Michelin
tires, untamed aerodynamics and those
blasted ride-height devices.
First, Marquez has had to return from
yet another serious injury. Endless physio
on a broken right shoulder blade replaced
what should have been a holiday spent
coiffing champagne heroically. While fast
and confident during preseason, he ap-
peared thin and gaunt (this level of dedi-
cation isn't as easy to maintain as you
edge your way into your mid-30s). Plus, a
host of names got a taste of the winner's
bubbly during his four-race absence last
October and November.
Sure, Ducati appears to retain its supe-
riority over the rest. The Bologna bikes oc-
cupied five of the top seven spots at the
Sepang test. What was more, the longer
runs during testing offered bleak reading
for the rest. Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati)
was the fastest of the lot, with an aver-
age time over 10 laps of 1:58.027. Pecco
Bagnaia's (Lenovo Ducati) was 1:58.166,
Marc Marquez's was 1:58.289. Pedro
P98
MOTOGP I 2026 MOTOGP PREVIEW
MARC
BY NEIL MORRISON I PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
It's the last
year of the
fire-breathing,
shape-shifting
MotoGP
monsters
ahead of a
massive rule
overhaul for
2027, but
they're still all
chasing Marc
Marquez.
Locked in after yet
another massive
injury, Marc
Marquez has a
bigger target than
ever on his back
for 2026.
