Alex Marquez has “better options” to improve with 2026 Ducati MotoGP bike

Gresini MotoGP rider Alex Marquez admits the GP24 Ducati suited him better, but believes he has “better options” to improve on the GP26 despite a tough start to 2026.

The Spaniard came into the new campaign as a pre-season title favourite, having won three grands prix on his way to runner-up in the standings in 2025.

He did so on Ducati’s 2024-spec bike, with his form earning him a promotion to a factory-spec GP26 for the new season.

However, after the first three races, Alex Marquez sits eighth in the standings with a best finish of sixth at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

At the same stage of the 2025 campaign, he had finished second in every main race and sprint, and led the championship by a point.

Ducati’s form not worth panicking about yet

Ducati’s current form has coincided with Aprilia’s dominant start to the 2026 season, with Marco Bezzecchi winning all three grands prix and the factory team finishing 1-2 in Brazil and the USA.

But, speaking at an event with Momoven, Alex Marquez wasn’t sounding any alarms over the performance of the GP26.

“This bike may have changed a little, not that much, but when the competition is tough, you put the bike under more strain,” he said.

“I'm struggling a bit more with this bike, but we have better options.

“The GP24 suits my riding style better, but the GP26 can be fine-tuned.

“Even though we're only in the third race, there's no need to panic; we have to wait until the fifth or sixth.

“Ducati is working to ensure that Aprilia's dominance doesn't last so long.”

Aprilia’s Jorge Martin has already warned that Ducati will get back to winning ways from the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.

Alex Marquez hopes this will be the case, but doesn’t believe a poor run at Jerez will signify a long-lasting problem for Ducati.

“Hopefully, it will be Jerez, a bit like last year,” he added.

“But it's not like if we do badly in Jerez, we'll do badly in every race of the year.

:You go from an ideal bike to one you have to adapt to a little more. I also have to improve; during this break I've done a lot of self-criticism.”