Alex Marquez insists Marc’s injury not to blame for Ducati’s slow start to the season
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images Alex Marquez insists that Ducati’s slow start to the 2026 MotoGP season has nothing to do with Marc Marquez’s injury and says Aprilia are simply doing a better job at the moment. Ducati, who are looking for their first win in five races, haven’t experienced a drought like this since they went over five years without a Grand Prix victory from 2010 to 2016. Meanwhile, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi has won all five races to start the year.
With Bezzecchi not only winning but also leading every lap of those five consecutive victories, it’s been one of Ducati’s worst starts in recent memory. From 2022 through to last season, they had at least one Desmosedici rider pick up a win within the first three rounds each year. Bezzecchi’s dominance means he leads the riders’ standings with 81 points, just ahead of his teammate Jorge Martin on 77.
The highest-placed Ducati rider is VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth place with 50 points. Alex Marquez: Aprilia ‘doing a better job’ than Ducati in 2026 Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images Di Giannantonio also has the only Grand Prix podium finish for Ducati so far, taking third place in Brazil. Marc Marquez won the Sprint race there but is still fifth in the standings with 45 points after three rounds.
While Michele Pirro has pointed to Marc’s shoulder injury and ongoing issues with the GP26, Gresini rider Alex Marquez believes Aprilia’s early momentum says more about their progress than Ducati’s setbacks. “Ducati’s current situation has nothing to do with Marc’s injury,” Alex told AS. “Aprilia, another factory, have taken a step forward from Ducati this year and are doing better.
How long will this last? We don’t know. And until what track?