Marc Marquez is heading into his first MotoGP season in six years as world champion, but Andrea Dovizioso is confident the Spaniard will not show the same dominance as last year.
After years of enduring an injury nightmare in the early 2020s, Mark Marquez Return to full form with the factory Ducati Clothing was a visionary in 2025.
The 33-year-old didn’t put his foot down as he went for his seventh MotoGP World Cup, finishing the year with 25 wins in 36 races.
however, Marquez’s season was cut short by a broken collarbone A week after getting his hands on the championship, he continues.
since then, Recovery is the name of the game for Marquez.. With the Spaniard spending most of the winter break with his arm in a sling, his rivals have been able to work on usurping the world title for the upcoming season.
Andrea Dovizioso has predicted that Marc Marquez’s rivals will make MotoGP ‘more difficult’ in 2026.
One of Marquez’s former MotoGP rivals; Andrea DoviziosoThe factory Ducati man predicted a very close race during the title defense.
“Let’s see how Marc Marquez is physically,” said the Italian. La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We have to understand whether the recent injury will affect him or not.
“If Marc is not reduced, we will be back on track for the 2025 season. But the results will not be the same because, in my opinion, Marquez’s rivals will be ready.
“Last year, they didn’t expect this amazing power, making life more difficult for Mark. Aprilia It can be more competitive. (Marco) Bezechichi.
“Each season has its own story. I don’t think there will be any upheaval as there is no change in the rules. It should be consistent with last year.”
Of course, Marquez is still the favorite to secure an eighth Premier League title next season. Still, Dovizioso is not alone in his assessment of the field.
MotoGP professional Peter Bohm believes Marquez is too vulnerable. For his rivals this year, ‘stupid’ crashes in pre-season testing highlight the Spaniard’s discomfort with the new Ducati prototype for 2026.
- Read more: Marc Marquez explains the ‘problem’ that led to three crashes during the MotoGP Buriram test
Marc Marquez is one win away from a century of Grand Prix motorcycle racing victories.
Even if Márquez doesn’t look as dominant as he did last year in the future, he can make his name in the history books with just one victory.
Thanks to his impressive performance so far in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, Marquez could secure his 100th victory in the sport, his current total standing at 99 ahead of the opener in Thailand.
If it’s as scary as it was in 2025, Marquez could even catch up to Valentino Rossi. To record the most Grand Prix victories in the premier class overall.
But this may be a very tall order. Although technically possible, the Spaniard would need to equal the Italian’s 16 Grand Prix victories.
