Why the Márquez magic no longer works on the Ducati in 2026: "It's me who's missing, not the bike"

While Marc Márquez's raw results have been worrying since the start of the 2026 season, it's the origin of this unease that truly raises questions. The shadow of his violent crash in Indonesia in 2025 still seems to loom large, with the Spaniard likely still suffering from physical aftereffects that are holding him back.

This lack of bite was indeed painfully evident in Austin, his usual stomping ground, where he finished fifth in the Grand Prix after crashing out of the Sprint the previous day, taking Fabio Di Giannantonio down with him. An incident symptomatic of a rider forcing things to compensate for a weakness.

While the Desmosedici GP25 dominated the competition last year, the situation has undeniably changed. In the United States, we have suffered more than we should have: this is a wake-up call that should push us to return to victory. insists Borgo Panigale's technical director, Gigi Dall'Igna. What is clear is that we must work hard to enable our drivers to give their best, especially now that the competition is so fierce. »

For VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, the problem lies in the braking. Our rear end is really good, it's just that we overuse it for everything. So, as soon as we don't manage it a bit, we no longer have the front end to keep pushing. I think that in recent years, we've had incredible races because we were ahead of the competition thanks to rear tire control, but now that the others have greatly improved the front end, this rear control is no longer enough. he laments. We really need to improve our braking and corner entry. Like today, when I was behind the Aprilias and Pedro [Acosta], I just couldn't brake the bike like they did. So we can manage the tires as well as we want, but if we can't brake as hard, we'll stay there. ».

At the start of the 2026 season, the RS-GP from Noale seems to have gained the upper hand. This is evidenced by Aprilia's dominance at the front of the field in the first three rounds, with the exception of Fabio Di Giannantonio's third place in Brazil.

« I don't think we're any less good than last year, it's just that the others are better. assures number 93. We need to find a way to take the next step. And yes, it's not just a question of the manufacturer, it's also a question of the riders: Bezzecchi and Martín, but especially Bezzecchi, are in top form. That's always a consequence. When you feel good on the bike, you push harder, then you start to ride better and you're faster. »

A lack of sensation

However, Marc Márquez refuses to make excuses. It's me who's lacking, not the bike. But in the first few laps, when the tires are new, the bike becomes more aggressive and I can't quite handle it yet."It's exasperating," he exclaimed, frustrated by an atypical weekend on the Circuit of the Americas. I need to figure out how to improve my first few laps. I don't feel comfortable on the bike. Then, it's like I get used to an unnatural position and just keep riding. I ride, I'm still fast, but I can't seem to make a difference.. " He adds : " That said, it's true that right now I'm not helping the bike. I think I can do better for myself. »

An impression confirmed by his boss. With a still uncertain feel for the machine, this requires a setup that needs adjusting and prevents him from being the Marc Márquez we know so well and from whom we expect so much " explains Gigi Dall'Igna.

Nothing is decided yet. The Spaniard has already proven his ability to turn around critical situations, as seen in his 2017 season where he only managed one win in the first eight races before clinching the title.

With a month's break before the next round scheduled in Jerez (Spain), Marc Márquez has the necessary respite to heal his body and regain the bite needed to challenge the hegemony of the Noale troops, while Ducati will also have to take advantage of it to look for technical solutions.

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