Ducati has admitted that it needs to raise its level in order to compete with Aprilia in MotoGP, recognizing that it can no longer rely on its star rider, Marc Marquez, to compensate for its shortcomings. This season, the Italian brand is experiencing a very difficult start, with Aprilia dominating the first two races in Thailand and Brazil, gaining a significant advantage in the championship.
Despite Marquez’s victory in the sprint race in Goinia, both he and Fabio di Giannantonio were unable to cope with the strength of Aprilia’s riders, Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, who achieved a commanding double. Davide Tardozzi, Ducati’s manager, commented that the team needs to focus on improving the Desmosedici and not just rely on Marquez’s skill to achieve good positions, especially considering that the Spanish rider is still recovering from a shoulder injury suffered last year.
Tardozzi acknowledged that while Marquez is not at 100%, this is no excuse, as other Ducati riders have also fallen behind. The rider does not complain about his condition and works hard to achieve the best possible results. This represents a significant change, as Aprilia, which previously fought for the last positions, has become a real threat to Ducati’s supremacy in the championship.
Last season, Ducati already began to show signs of vulnerability, with Francesco Bagnaia struggling to stay ahead. Now, the situation has become even more complicated after the loss of Pramac to Yamaha, leaving Ducati with six bikes in the competition. The first two races of the 2026 season have presented changes in Michelin tires, and the new Goinia circuit has introduced unexpected variability in the results, with the hope that a better competitive landscape will emerge in the third race in Austin.
Tardozzi expressed that Ducati is aware of the problems that have affected its initial performance and that Gigi Dall’Igna, the general manager, is already working on solutions. He congratulated the Aprilia team for their improvement, acknowledging that they will continue to demonstrate high competitiveness, but he trusts that Ducati will be able to make strides to close the gaps in the upcoming races, including Jerez.
Bagnaia’s unstable start to the 2026 season continued with a fall during the race in Brazil, highlighting Ducati’s need to provide him with a bike that he can ride with confidence. Tardozzi emphasized the importance of this aspect, recognizing that Bagnaia’s doubts stem from accidents like that of qualifying, which left him in 11th position on the grid.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
