- Marquez’s 2026 has started in a way few predicted, raising serious questions.
- Former rival Dovizioso has weighed in on what might be holding him back.
- All eyes on Jerez to see if the reigning champ can find answers on home soil.
Three rounds in. Outscored by riders aboard two different bikes and by another Ducati. More points left on the table than scored, and not a single Sunday podium so far. Marc Márquez’s title defence struggles are more than just a blip. They’re bewildering.
Before the 2026 season began, no one would dare speak any name but Márquez’s to take home his eighth premier class trophy and go past his former arch-nemesis, Valentino Rossi. So, what changed?
According to Yamaha test rider Andrea Dovizioso, who knows a thing or two about battling the No. 93 for titles, there’s more to Márquez’s shoulder injury than what was initially believed.
The factory Ducati star suffered it during the race in Mandalika last year, taken out by Marco Bezzecchi. Ironic as it may be that Bez has since been in roaring form and leads the 2026 standings, Márquez’s six-month recovery has his fans fearing that the damage is permanent.
Dovi appears to agree. Speaking to Moto.it, the Italian said, “His situation, in my opinion, is much more serious than it seems. Last year, he managed to win a championship, certainly not 100%, that’s a long way off.
“And maybe with the fall in Indonesia, he increased this arm limit even more that I don’t think is possible to fix.”
Márquez’s admission of guilt
Márquez himself hasn’t shied away from taking responsibility. After the race in COTA, where he finished a respectable P5 despite a long-lap penalty, he said, “I’m missing. Myself is missing, not the bike.
“In the first laps when the tyres are new, the bike becomes more aggressive, and I can’t ride at the moment. I need to understand well how to improve the first laps.
“I don’t feel well on the bike. Then it looks like I get used [to be] in a position, not a natural position on the bike, and I’m just riding. Just riding, still I’m fast, but I cannot make the difference.”
At the same time, the 33-year-old doesn’t believe Ducati have taken a step back. “I think we are not worse than last year, but the others are better than last year,” he added.
Even then, the most telling verdict came when he concluded, “Saying that, it’s true that right now I’m not helping the bike. I think I can do more for myself.”
No pain, no gain
And Dovi, too, pointed to his old rival’s self-reflective mentality. “Marc is not one to complain, and he is not one to ever make excuses,” he said.
“Austin was the definitive confirmation, in a place where he could make a difference, he couldn’t.”
In the end, the anti-clockwise COTA, one of Márquez’s most successful tracks, wasn’t quite the positive turning point. It was a reminder that this year, there’s no margin for error. But given Aprilia’s rise, risks will have to be taken to successfully defend the championship, especially since upgrades to the GP26 could be unlikely given the looming new regulations for 2027.
The question for Márquez is simple but damning: how much more is he willing to gamble and suffer to win this year’s title? A home race in Jerez in three weeks should provide some answers.
