Marco Bezecchi has made it clear that Aprilia is now a serious contender for the MotoGP crown after his dominant performance at the Thai Grand Prix, and senior officials at Ducati have not been able to hide their concerns that the Italian manufacturer’s local rivals could be overtaken.
After finishing last year’s campaign with back-to-back victories in the Grand Prix format, it was what everyone expected. Aprilia He took another step to compete in the winter break Ducati Dominating MotoGP.
even if Marc Marquez has become the hot favorite heading into the 2026 season.He could not show the same high performance that he had last year in Buriram when he ensured a perfect weekend.
rather than Marco Bezecchi He captured the Spaniard as King of Thailand. The Italian took a convincing position on Saturday, and although he finished out of the next sprint race, he was more dominant in the Grand Prix. Bezechichi won by more than five seconds.
Marquez An incident with the kerb ended his early shower and his retirement prevented Ducati from scoring its first Grand Prix podium in ’88.
Francesco Bagnaia admits that Ducati no longer has the fastest bike Anymore on the grid, and the concerns seem echoed by the Bologna-based outfit’s top-brass body language.
If you were Marc Marquez, when would you retire?
Chicho Lorenzo saw ‘a lot of concern’ from the Ducati garage at the Thai Grand Prix.
In a form on Fast and furious podcastJorge Lorenzo’s father and Grand Prix motorcycle racing coach, Chicho Lorenzo, has revealed the extent of Ducati’s grueling race in Thailand.
We are used to seeing it. David Tardozi And Luigi Daligna Ducati were all smiles at the end of the weekend thanks to their impressive results in recent years, but the overall performance at Buriram was the complete opposite.
He said: “At Buriram, we have once and for all realized how useless it is to make predictions based on winter testing alone.
“On Sunday I saw a lot of concern in the Ducati garage, especially from Davide Tardozzi, a man who never hides his emotions.
“One of the mechanics put his hand on his head. After all, Gigi Dali Igna looked very worried.”
The first race of the weekend ended in controversy Marquez was forced to return the lead to Pedro Acosta On the last lap after the stewards thought he had pushed the KTM rider off the track.
Dale is seen trying to calm down Igna Marquez. After the checkered flag fell, in a rare upset for the reigning world champion.
A changing of the guard to start the season or just plain old? 🤔
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Marc Marquez didn’t look his best at the Thai Grand Prix weekend.
In the year The 2026 MotoGP season-opener showed how Marquez is still not back to full fitness following the broken collarbone he suffered in the final stages of last year’s campaign.
Paddock insiders have highlighted how ‘burnt out’ Marquez looks Considering that the recently concluded race weekend was only the first of 22 rounds this year, it is particularly worrying at Buriram.
MotoGP riders form Silvan Guintoli also spoke of how Marquez appeared to be in ‘deep trouble’. After falling down the order in the Grand Prix.
The upcoming race weekend in Brazil should be able to give fans a further idea of ​​what the result at Buriram represents for the rest of the season.
A new circuit means every team starts from the same playing field. Whoever manages to emerge the fastest, could be their title for the election.
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