Marco Melandri believes that Marc Marquez is “more fired up than ever” to win the 2026 MotoGP title, because he knows that the Ducati Asis rivals are all “scared”.
It’s a mistake to ever buy. Marquez Despite all the ups and downs of the title, it is still a contender for the crown. But the Spaniard is now in doubt after a difficult start to the season with a nerve problem in his shoulder that has left him unable to drive naturally.
Two screws in Marquez’s right shoulder were bent after a crash at last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix and pressure on the radial nerve. However, it only came out when Marquez returned to work in 2026, and it took a few more months to figure it out.
Finally, Marquez admitted that he rode “with one and a half arms.” Heading into surgery in May to remove the bent screws and bone fragments. He also needed surgery on the fifth metatarsal in his right foot after a huge surge in the Sprint at Le Mans in May.
Ducati must issue team orders to ensure Marc Marquez secures the 2026 MotoGP title.
Marco Melandri thinks Marc Marquez ‘realises’ he is ‘still the strongest’ rider
Marquez returned to action at Mugello in May but was unable to avoid dropping to 102 points. Marco Bezecchi An Aprilia rider tops the rankings after winning the Italian Grand Prix. However, Márquez has since surpassed Bezecic by 62 points and heads to Assen just 40 shy.
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Champion Márquez wasted no time in punishing Bezecic’s mistake – of his own doing – by making it two victories at Balaton Park and then the Czech Grand Prix. And Melandri He believes Marquez’s form will soon return from injury and he knows the Ducati rider will be the “strongest” rider in 2026 and his rivals will fear him.
“Marc is the type of rider that causes problems by being out there,” Melandri said. reaping. “Now he’s back. Before the operation, I said to him, ‘Marquez will be back as a rider in 2025 or he’s finished in my view’. He’s back.
“And he’s back more fired up than ever, because he realizes he’s still the strongest. There’s a lot of races left, and he’s good at reading them all, so he knows everyone’s afraid of him.”
He’s chasing the championship, (so) he has nothing to lose, and it’s going to be a tough fight. It will be hard to beat him this year, but also next year with the new bikes.
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Bezcic has seen his title hopes suffer a major blow in recent weeks, as he was taken down by teammate George Martin at Turn 1 at the Hungarian GP and subsequently suspended for the Czech Grand Prix. of The FIM banned Bezecic for hitting the marshal. After his crash in the Brno Sprint.
even though Marquez felt “empty” after the Czech GP.Aware of Bezecic’s race ban, he pushed his body to the limit to get the win. Melandri now suspects it will be difficult to deny Marquez an eighth MotoGP title in 2026 and possibly a ninth title in 2027.
Ducati have signed Marquez to a new contract in 2028, keeping him at Borgo Panigale at the start of next season’s MotoGP 850cc rules era. And Melandri believes the only real change next year will be for Pirelli to replace Michelin as MotoGP’s sole tire supplier.
Melandri added: “The only real change in my view will be the tyres. The lower fairing (and) the aerodynamics, these are all very small changes. But it will be difficult to read the tyres, partly because there are not many test sessions.”
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