Alex Marquez has recently shone at the Grand Prix of Spain, but the Gresini Racing rider is wondering whether his victory is a genuine turning point in his career or merely an isolated event.
Despite finishing second in the previous season’s standings and having a factory-spec bike for 2026, Marquez did not start this season with the best results. His initial performance was marked by difficulties, with a seventh place as his best result in the first three races.
The drop in Ducati’s performance at the start of the championship increased his uncertainties, especially upon returning to Jerez, a circuit where he achieved his first MotoGP victory last year. However, on this occasion, Marquez dominated the race, achieving a decisive victory by a margin of two seconds.
This victory has broken the streak of five consecutive races won by Marco Bezzecchi and is the first time Ducati has secured a victory since last October. Marquez has attributed his triumph to several factors, including his natural connection with the circuit, an updated Ducati package, and a shift in mentality that allowed him to face the issues with his bike.
Still, Marquez insists that it is too early to draw solid conclusions. The post-race test at Jerez, where new aerodynamic solutions were tested, has left many unanswered questions about his sudden braking.
“We’ve suffered a lot in the first races, but now all of a sudden we’re much faster,” Marquez commented. “The upcoming races, like Le Mans and Montmelo, will be fundamental to understand whether this advance is real or just an isolated episode.” Additionally, Marquez acknowledges the importance of analyzing the improvements both at Ducati and in his team to keep progressing in the competition.
This grand prix has highlighted the performance differences between the official Ducati team and its satellite units. While Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia struggle for good results, Fabio di Giannantonio has led the team in the first races, now followed by Alex Marquez from Jerez. The next series of races will be key to confirming whether Marquez’s improvement is consistent.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
