Marc Marquez says he nonetheless lacks the consistency wanted to struggle for the 2026 MotoGP title, however insists he has not misplaced confidence that he can flip his season round.
The manufacturing facility Ducati rider heads to this weekend’s French Grand Prix with out having scored a podium in a Sunday race this 12 months. Whereas he claimed pole place on a drying Jerez observe and transformed that right into a dash victory, a fourth-place end in Goiania stays his finest grand prix end of the marketing campaign.
The reigning world champion began the season on the again foot as he continued to take care of the after-effects of an harm he picked up on the Indonesian Grand Prix in October.
However even after declaring himself absolutely match at Jerez, he remained off the tempo in dry circumstances and crashed out of the race on lap 2 after shedding the result in his brother Alex Marquez.
Marquez, whose profession almost ended following a hefty crash on the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix, mentioned he wanted to discover a resolution to constantly struggle on the entrance this 12 months.
“I’ve come out of worse conditions,” he mentioned at Le Mans on Thursday. “That mentioned, we’ve to repair a number of issues if we need to struggle for the world championship. We have proven we’ve velocity, however not consistency.
“The outcomes present that there’s velocity, however there is no such thing as a consistency. In order that’s the place we’ve to repair or attempt to perceive why we’re lacking this consistency, which final 12 months was our sturdy level in every kind of circumstances and in every kind of tracks.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Staff, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photograph by: Jorge Guerrero / AFP by way of Getty Pictures
“This 12 months, it’s rather more irregular. Little by little, we are going to resolve it. However it’s true that in the intervening time, with the outcomes that we’ve proven, particularly on Sundays, you possibly can’t consider a title.”
Aprilia dominated the beginning of the 2026 MotoGP season, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming victories throughout the opening three flyaways at Buriram, Goiania and Austin.
However whereas Ducati seems to be in a weaker place in comparison with the earlier 12 months, instantly hampering Marquez’s possibilities, the seven-time world champion has additionally struggled to stay on tempo inside the Italian producer’s roster.
After the opening 4 rounds, Marquez has scored 57 factors in comparison with 71 for VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio. His personal brother Alex Marquez has closed inside three factors of him after claiming Ducati’s maiden 2026 win at Jerez.
Marc insisted the onus was on him to enhance his efficiency, as he refused to interact in a blame recreation with Ducati.
“I am by no means going accountable the bike for the issues, and the crew will not blame them solely on the rider,” he mentioned. “A Ducati gained in Jerez, which implies the bike is able to successful and preventing for the title. It is as much as me to search out methods to enhance.”
Marc Marquez, Ducati Staff
Photograph by: Gold and Goose Images / LAT Pictures / by way of Getty Pictures
Having recognized the front-end of the bike as a key weak point on the Jerez check, Marquez mentioned he was additionally struggling in left-hand corners, which have been as soon as one among his greatest strengths.
“I’m noticing it extra in quick curves. It’s the place I’m struggling extra, and above all in left-hand curves,” he mentioned. “It’s the place I’m going a lot slower than final 12 months. However, effectively, it’s the mixture of every part.”
Rain is forecast all through the French GP weekend, doubtlessly levelling up the sphere and giving extra alternatives to a rider like Marquez, who thrives in low-grip circumstances.
Nonetheless, having claimed an unlikely win in a mixed-weather dash race at Austin, Marquez mentioned he would favor to be fast in dry circumstances at Le Mans.
“If you’re ready for the rain, it means that you’re not quick within the dry. So, we hope for dry [conditions].
“It is higher to have dry circumstances. Moist circumstances are at all times a type of lottery. It depends upon the circuit, depends upon the tyres, depends upon the quantity of water.
“You may have one feeling or one other one. Let’s have a look at how we are able to enhance our feeling within the dry in the course of the weekend.”
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Motorsport.com Staff
