Neil Hodgson feels Marc Marquez’s 2026 MotoGP title bid hangs in the balance, but could launch a “completely different championship” at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Ducati rider Marquez Balaton Park heads into this weekend’s Hungarian GP with a 102-point deficit to Aprilia’s rival at the eighth round of 22 events this season. Marco Bezecchi Above where it stands. George Martin Aprilia is 85 points ahead of Marquez in P2 in the standings.
Márquez has never fallen back from his current points gap and has still led from the start to win the championship in each of his seven championship seasons. The largest margin ever reversed was 37 points in 2017.
What is your podium prediction for the Hungarian Grand Prix after Marc Marquez takes pole position?
Neil Hodgson thinks Marc Marquez can only win the 2026 title when he does the double at Balaton Park.
Following a crash at last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix, Marquez’s continued results from a spin in his shoulder touched a nerve and cost him the start of his 2026 campaign. But Marquez feels his recent surgery has fixed the nerve problem in his shoulder.After returning to Mugello.
Read more: Marc Marquez’s biggest MotoGP title is back
Now, a little Hodgson Still, the 2026 title feels unattainable for Marquez, a new championship could open up if the Ducati rider doubles. Hungarian GP this weekend. Marquez said his sprint and grand prix wins at Balaton Park would put the Spaniard in a good position to punish any problems with Aprilia Bezeci and Martin.
Hodgson said. TNT Sports: “I don’t think he has a chance to win the championship this year, but he has a lot of races left. The only hope is to put him in the right position to pick up the points if the two teammates start to jam.”
If he doubles up here, this will give him a chance and confidence. Then he gets a weekend off for fitness and we go to Bruno.
The only thing he can control is his own performance, but I think this could be a crucial weekend. If he doesn’t do the double this weekend, that will happen. But if he does, it’s a completely different championship ahead of us.
Marquez completed his first double on the MotoGP calendar at Balaton Park last year, with the 33-year-old winning the Sprint and the Hungarian GP from pole position in between the main races. Now for the 2026 race he will be looking to repeat those victories from Pole after finishing P1 on the grid.
He appeared in Balaton Park on Saturday Márquez defeated Pedro Acosta to secure a spot for the 2026 Hungarian GP In just 0.053 seconds. Acosta was on point for most of Q2, but a late mistake during braking cost him enough time to let Marquez take pole at the end.
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