Pedro Acosta has tried to play down his involvement in the title race for the 2026 MotoGP season, but reigning world champion Marc Marquez is in no doubt that the KTM star will pose a ‘real’ threat to Ducati this year.
As we head into the second round of the 2026 MotoGP season, Pedro Acosta He is currently leading the championship standings. Marco Bezecchi.
Acosta’s profitable weekend in the season opener in Thailand saw him finish in the championship lead for the first time in his career and also KTM Showing a championship lead for the first time in a rider line-up.
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In his own media activities in the lead-up to the Brazilian Grand Prix; Acosta tried to play his role as a championship star.But Mark Marquez He is not easily fooled.
Marc Marquez insists Pedro Acosta has posed a ‘real’ threat to Ducati this year.
During a pre-event press conference in Goiania, Marquez fielded several questions related to them. Ducati A disappointing season opener and how they plan to bounce back this weekend in Brazil.
Asked if he is confident of reviving this weekend, the world champion spoke through. Make a markWe’ll see, we’ll try to get points and keep improving.
“It’s true they’re bringing back the Thai and Austrian shows, which usually works well for us, but we have to understand how we fit in, and it’s not just about the bike, it’s also about riding, Bezcicci and Acosta are at the very top.”
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He was also asked how great Ducati’s technical problems were with Aprilia emerging as a dominant force last time out at Buriram. Cervera’s Ant was quick to respond to Acosta’s recent comments.
He said: “It’s true, look, we hope to be very close, but the level of Bezecchi and Acosta is true, because if you look at the last six seasons, Bezecchi and Acosta were on the podium almost every time.
“So their level is real, it’s not a matter of ‘they’ll get it in the end’, no, they’re two fantastic riders who do well on their bikes, and we have to try to get as close as possible and beat them.”
Ducati can play into the hands of Marco Bezecchi and Aprilia by using high aero performances.
Marquez’s confirmation that Ducati will use the high-downforce aero fairings used earlier in the season opener could set off some alarm bells for the Borgo Panigale Tifosi.
They understand that Aprilia has the best aerodynamics package on the grid right now. Neil Hodgson praised Noel’s engineers for fixing the MotoGP outfit’s ‘weak area’. It often comes up on stop-and-go style circuits.
Ducati has been spotted preparing an aero upgrade. In a private test between the first and second rounds of the 2026 campaign, it shows that they have identified where they were able to gain some time on Aprilia’s benchmark machinery.
It remains to be seen how the season will play out at the weekend, but with the bikes yet to hit the tarmac in Brazil, it certainly looks like another Bezzecchi disaster.
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