Davide Tardozzi, team director of Ducati, has denied speculation that the MotoGP 2026 motorcycle has been developed in a way that favors Marc Márquez, sidelining the rest of the riders on his team.
With only five races left in the season, Márquez is the only Ducati rider placed within the top-five of the standings, while Fabio di Giannantonio from the VR46 team is over 100 points behind his brand teammate in the ranking.
This scenario has raised suspicions that the Desmosedici GP may have been specifically designed for the newcomer, a claim that Tardozzi firmly rejected during an interview after the Indonesian Grand Prix.
“I do not agree with those who say that Márquez has steered the development of the bike towards himself. It is absolutely not true,” Tardozzi stated. According to him, each rider on the team has the opportunity to choose their own solutions, and they have worked to adapt the bike to the needs of all riders.
Tardozzi highlighted that, while Márquez is enjoying good performance, this does not mean the motorcycle is the most suitable for everyone. He mentioned that Pecco Bagnaia, for example, uses different components compared to Márquez, including a distinctive fairing and different swingarm aerodynamics.
Furthermore, Tardozzi acknowledged Aprilia’s remarkable performance, which dominated the Indonesian Grand Prix with an impressive showing from their riders. Nevertheless, Ducati’s position in the standings remains competitive, with Márquez just two points behind the championship leader, Jorge Martín.
With some optimism, Tardozzi remarked that the team is hoping for better performance at future circuits such as Phillip Island, where the track configuration might better suit the characteristics of their bike.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
