Nobuatsu Aoki believes Gresini’s Alex Marquez proved he will be a MotoGP title contender during the Sepang test in 2026 as he was uncharacteristically quick.
The 29-year-old set the overall fastest lap and best Sprint Race pace of the week when the paddock first met in 2026 in Malaysia in early February. Marquez He set a 1:56.402 over the three days, as well as an average of 1:58.027 in his Sprint Sim.
Gresini Rider Marquez appeared to be making full use of the factory-spec drivetrain Ducati GP26 at the Sepang test. Ducati in 2010 In 2026, they gave Marquez a special bike that would work. Aboard a GP24, rider Marc Marquez will work for the prize for finishing second to his brother in the 2025 championship.
In the year In 2025 MotoGP season It was the best year of the younger Márquez brother’s premier class career so far. Alex Marquez In 2025, he scored his first MotoGP Grand Prix victory at Jerez, winning the Catalan and Malaysian GPs as well as the Spanish races in Britain, Portugal and Valencia.
Alex Marquez’s Sepang test time was unbelievable as Nobuasu Aoki didn’t look fast enough.
Now Aoki Márquez expects to compete for the prize from the 2025 season to 2026 and his brother Marc, because they are now on the same bike. Alex has never contested for a premier class title as the 2025 campaign never materialized when Mark won 11 Grands Prix.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Alex Marquez from financial value to career statistics
Aki believes that what will strengthen the marque’s title threat at Seppang 2026 is how fast he rides, even if he looks “strangely relaxed”. Former Suzuki 500cc rider Aoki couldn’t believe the lap time he set after seeing how he rode the GP26.
Aki said. Young machine“Alex Marquez is a bit scary. Alex has recorded the fastest time overall in all three days but he looks surprisingly relaxed.
“When I saw him riding, I thought, ‘Yeah, he’s relaxed, that’s good! (But doesn’t he look that fast?)’. But he really set strong times.”
“Even though he didn’t look fast, the fact that he recorded the time was proof that he was actually riding relaxed, which is very difficult to do on a race bike…
“Alex’s relaxation level was amazing. He had great balance when applying and releasing power, and he was riding in good condition. And what’s more, he set a very fast time, so nothing to complain about.”
Nobuasu Aoki has heard that Alex Marquez surprised KTM by visiting their factory.
Aki is not alone in backing Alex Marquez to challenge for the 2026 MotoGP title after seeing him produce during the Sepang test. Three-time premier class champion Jorge Lorenzo believes Marquez’s pace at Sepang “surprised everyone”. And confirmed the title.
Marquez could follow Jorge Martin by winning the MotoGP title on a factory Ducati for a satellite team and leaving the Italian factory entirely. Marquez is said to be close to a switch. KTM After making it clear that they don’t want Ducati for 2027.
Read more: The contract length and salary of every 2026 MotoGP rider, including Alex Marquez
KTM have tried to negotiate with Alex Marquez because Pedro Acosta could take the second factory Ducati seat behind Marc Marquez in 2027. Alex sees the KTM team as a good move and is said to have visited their factory.
Aki also heard about the rumor. Marquez is visiting the KTM factory to close out the 2027 campaign.. It even suggests that the Spaniard surprised KTM’s workforce in Menderfing with a visit to the Austrian brand’s MotoGP factory in early 2026.
“It’s just a rumour, but if there’s no fire, there’s no smoke,” Aki said. “When the new year comes and the KTM crew goes to the factory to assemble a new machine and they find Alex Marquez there, or something like that. So, there’s bound to be smoke.”
