Alex Marquez was awarded a factory Ducati bike for the 2026 MotoGP season, but his title chances would have been bleak even without his injuries.
After achieving his best finish in the premier class last year with P2 behind brother Marc Marquez, Ducati gave Alex Marquez a factory bike over his Gresini teammate, Fermin Aldeguer, for 2026.
The Spaniard was looking to have another competitive season, and his win at Jerez seemed to prove that it would be the case. However, Marquez has had a torrid campaign, which has been plagued by serious injury.
Alex Marquez admits he has not got the most out of the GP26 – it’s exactly why he would never have fought for the title
Marquez suffered a horrific crash in Barcelona as he hit the back of Pedro Acosta’s KTM after his engine cut out. The resulting impact left the Gresini rider with a fractured C7 vertebra, which kept him out for three races.
While he did show great resilience to return to the grid at Assen, he knows better than anyone that he has not got the most out of the GP26.
He told DAZN at the Indonesian GP: “I haven’t been able to make the most of this year with the factory Ducati and that’s really frustrated me.
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“I don’t know if I’d be in the thick of the fight if I hadn’t been injured, or if I’d be 40 points behind, but I reckon I’d be in the mix. Although I don’t know – other things can happen too.
“And injuries are part of the game and have had an impact on many championships. Ask Dani Pedrosa: how many championships has he lost due to injuries? Loads.
“It’s part of the game, but it’s true that you tell yourself that this year, out of the four Ducati riders, you were the one with the factory bike and all the support, but you haven’t been able to make the most of it. And that’s really annoyed me.”
His injuries in Barcelona are certainly a factor in his season unravelling. But as he admits, he has not maximised the performance of the GP26 when fully fit.
Before his crash at Montmelo, Marquez’s win at Jerez was his only top-five finish in a Grand Prix. Since his return, the Gresini rider has only been on the podium once, finishing P2 in Misano.
Even if he was fully fit for the full 2026 season, it is hard to imagine that Marquez would have mounted a serious title challenge. He has not adapted well to the factory bike and has lacked the consistency to fight with his brother and the Aprilias.
What is even more disappointing for the Spaniard is that he will not get another chance with the factory Ducati. Alex Marquez will join KTM in 2027 as he looks to get to grips with being a full factory rider.
2026 has been a huge missed opportunity for the 30-year-old, and his injuries have merely masked what has been an underwhelming season. It is almost a return to normality – after all, he is P8 in the championship, which was his highest finish in MotoGP until 2025.
Source: MGP