Alex Marquez feels that having a factory bike for the 2026 MotoGP season provides him with “greater peace of mind,” though it places responsibility on Ducati to enhance the bike’s performance. Last year, Marquez secured second place in the championship alongside Ducati teammates who finished 1-2 overall, achieving three race victories. His only rival for the top spot was his younger brother, Marc Marquez, who clinched the title with Ducati Lenovo by winning 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprint races, wrapping up the championship five events early.
For Alex, finishing second in 2025 was enough to earn the coveted factory bike for the following season, something he says boosts his confidence and brings a more mature approach to racing. Speaking at the Gresini Ducati Team launch in Kuala Lumpur, he expressed optimism about leveraging Ducati’s support to steadily unlock the bike’s potential.
However, he acknowledged that Ducati faces stiff competition this year from KTM, Honda, and particularly Aprilia, which dominated by taking three of the final four races last season. With 2025 being the last year of the current 1,000cc regulations, Ducati is focusing on fine-tuning the Desmosedici GP’s performance.
“We’re doing what we can, but ultimately Ducati needs to make some improvements on the bike,” Marquez explained. “We’ll be testing new updates from Ducati this preseason to strengthen the bike further.”
Despite the challenges, Marquez remains confident in Ducati’s ongoing development. He noted how Aprilia and KTM closed the gap last year, with riders like Bezzecchi and Acosta making notable progress. This intensifies what he expects to be a fascinating final season under the current rules.
“It will be very interesting to see what manufacturers bring this year. Ducati has already made progress in the winter and the bike will be more competitive and better-rounded, especially in areas where we struggled previously,” he added.
Marquez also highlighted the importance of improving not just the bike, but also his and the Gresini Racing team’s performance. Reflecting on their results last year, he said being seen as a serious contender is motivating.
“Our focus with the team will be to maintain the same mental approach that helped us last season, while working hard to improve in weaker areas. We’ve analyzed these points over the winter and will aim to be even more precise in 2025, particularly in moments where we previously made mistakes,” he concluded.
Fan Take: This development signals a crucial step for Alex Marquez and Ducati as they prepare for an intensely competitive 2025 season. Racing fans should watch closely, as factory support and bike improvements could reshape the championship battle in the final year of the current MotoGP regulations, potentially setting the stage for thrilling rivalries on the grid.
