After a chaotic start to the season, Álex Márquez seems to finally be regaining his feel on the Ducati 2026. Between crashes and mixed performances, the Gresini rider has had to face delicate technical adjustments. Does the last Grand Prix in Brazil mark a decisive turning point in his season?
A Complicated Start to the Season
The 2026 season for Álex Márquez does not begin under the best auspices. On the tracks, he has experienced up-and-down performances: 11th place in the sprint at Buriram, a crash the next day, and then a seventh position in the sprint at Goiânia. Ultimately, he finishes one rank higher on Sunday, but these results remain far from his goal of breaking into the top 5. Despite this unflattering picture, the rider manages to draw some satisfaction from his progress.
Ducati 2026: A Challenge to Overcome
This year, Márquez has inherited a Ducati model that is quite different from the one that accompanied him in 2025. While the previous model allowed him to familiarize himself with the competition, this 2026 version seems to pose more problems. However, the GP in Brazil offered him an opportunity to turn things around and refine his settings.
Progress to Confirm
“I think we made good progress on Sunday in Brazil. I found more feel and confidence on the bike,” he stated after the race. This renewed optimism comes with a clear intention: “We focused on areas where we haven’t extracted the potential. We worked on many issues, mainly to slow down the bike.” Indeed, the quest for better performance involves fine-tuning his riding style and technical settings.
Readjusting the Settings
Márquez emphasizes the importance of settings at corner entry: “We were missing some basic settings for the bike to be good in this area. We made very good progress on that.” However, this improvement is the result of a return to basics: “I think we got much closer to the base we had last year and in preseason.” This observation echoes the difficulties encountered at the start of the season, where he often struggled to find his bearings.
A Precarious Balance
While some progress is notable, there is still much to be done before Márquez is fully satisfied with his Ducati. The rider feels a lack of feel at the front and identifies other issues that impact his riding. “It’s not just the front; it’s also the stability at the rear,” he specifies. An instability at corner entry makes him lose confidence, a point that was once a major asset of his machine.
Toward Sustainable Improvement?
Márquez is optimistic about the future: “But we are finding things, and I feel like everything is not yet assembled.” The road to optimal performance involves increased focus on the identified problems and close collaboration with Ducati engineers. “We need to survive with the problems we have, and I think Ducati will find a solution.”
In Summary
- Difficult start for Álex Márquez in 2026.
- Ducati 2026 brings its share of challenges.
- Notable progress observed during the GP in Brazil.
- Crucial technical adjustments to improve his performance.
- Optimism regarding the evolution of settings and riding.
For Álex Márquez, this season is shaping up to be a true personal challenge. Technical adjustments and self-improvement are essential to regain his level and aim for top positions. The road is still long, but the positive signals observed in Brazil could herald a more promising continuation in the MotoGP championship.
