Alex Marquez admitted he’s “struggling fairly a bit” with Ducati’s 2026 MotoGP bike as he began the marketing campaign in stark distinction to the identical stage a yr in the past.
The Gresini Ducati rider made an important begin to the 2025 season on his 2024-spec bike, ending second in all three Sprints and Grands Prix in Thailand, Argentina and America.
After final yr’s American Grand Prix, he was truly main the championship by one level over eventual title holder Marc Marquez.
Alex Marquez will win three races in 2025, offering his older brother with a constant problem within the first half of the season and in the end ending second within the standings.
He was anticipated to do effectively in GP24, which begins within the 2025 season, however the degree he has proven all through the season has been one of many largest surprises of the yr.
All of this allowed him to get a manufacturing facility bike for the 2026 season, however it did not begin out the identical means.
He was unable to complete the season opener in Thailand, and within the shortened race in Brazil he was sixth, 8.9 seconds from successful, however in america he was seventh, 11.253 seconds off the lead.
April break is ‘optimistic’ for Alex Marquez
After three rounds, he’s in eighth place with 28 factors, 59 factors fewer than on the similar stage final season.
“Yeah, it is simply us having a tough time,” he mentioned.
“In comparison with our opponents, particularly me who has a sure model, we’re slightly bit (additional) backwards.
“We have been struggling fairly a bit this yr. We’re attempting to take some steps. We’re motivated to maneuver ahead and be extra aggressive, however we’re nonetheless lacking some issues.
“So we’ve got to maintain working and maintain commenting and I imagine Ducati will do numerous work.”
“They by no means cease working, so there’ll at all times be moments through the season the place they step up.”
Following the postponement of the Qatar race because of the ongoing battle within the Center East, racing is not going to resume till the Spanish Grand Prix on the finish of April.
Alex Marquez believes this can profit himself and Ducati with the intention to additional analyze the present scenario.
“I’m not pissed off (contemplating what occurred final yr).
“I wish to maintain working and take one other step ahead, and I really feel like I’m near that, however one thing is lacking.
“I believe it is a optimistic factor to not race in Qatar for now. Then we’ll be capable of analyze issues higher.”
