- Ducati knew no new engine before 2025 would have consequences till 2026 end.
- Aprilia have taken command this season, thanks to the concessions afforded.
- But the Borgo Panigale brand seems to have calculated its forced play perfectly.
“I think we are not worse than last year, but the others are better than last year. So we need to find a way to have a step.”
The preeminent MotoGP force of the 2020s has finally been knocked off its perch because, believe it or not, the above were Marc Márquez’s words after COTA. The six-time defending constructors’ champion and its current champion rider are now chasing Aprilia.
Ducati’s record run of 88 consecutive Grand Prix podiums, stretching back to Aragon 2021, came to a grinding halt at this year’s opener in Buriram. While that could have been dismissed as a blip, the 32-point deficit to their Italian counterparts in the constructors’ standings after just three rounds points to a seismic shift. More than a failure to improve, the crippling reality is inflicted almost entirely by Ducati’s own dominance.
The tax of perfection
The Bologna Bullets steamrolled the opposition to score 94% of the total points available in 2025. Even though that was a smidge below an otherworldly 98% in 2024, it was still miles clear of second-placed Aprilia (51%).
This meant Ducati retained its Rank A in the concessions system for the third consecutive season. The limitations imposed were the same: 170 test tyres at three nominated circuits, private testing by only test riders, no wildcard race entries, no mid-season engine development, and a single aero update.
But many things did change for them post-2024, only negatively, however. Pramac Racing, the 2023 teams’ champion and top satellite partner, moved to Yamaha. It reduced Ducatis on the grid from eight to six. Even though this is still two more than any other manufacturer, it would have hurt their data-driven process.
Most importantly, Ducati opted against an engine upgrade for 2025. This was knowing that they’d have to run it in 2026, too, given the pre-2027 engine freeze for every outfit. But the old tech was so good that their new one struggled to justify development costs in a frozen environment.
What’s also easily forgotten is that even if disregarding Márquez’s brilliance last year, his brother Álex would have sailed to the title on the year-old satellite Gresini.
Ducati and the GP24 Gambit
So, for all purposes, it’s the GP24 engine DNA still powering the Ducs. However, with next season affording every factory a Rank B clean slate, they’ve essentially earned a free run at 2026.
Even if Ducati lose this year, they’d still believe they got the best out of their hands-tied-behind-their-back situation. And this isn’t a certainty with a seven-time and another two-time world champion in the saddle.
Besides, they’ll be fired up to three-peat with the same engine spec and become the first constructor to win seven consecutive titles in the MotoGP era.
That’s a once-in-a-generation brilliance Gigi Dall’Igna and co. would be eager to boast. The possibility of denying a stronger-than-ever Aprilia their maiden title yet again would be the cherry on top.
2026 MotoGP Constructors’ Standings (After Round 3)
| Position | Constructor | Points | Gap | Wins (GP) |
| 1 | Aprilia | 101 | – | 3 |
| 2 | Ducati | 69 | -32 | 0 |
| 3 | KTM | 65 | -36 | 0 |
| 4 | Honda | 28 | -73 | 0 |
| 5 | Yamaha | 9 | -92 | 0 |
