Marc Marquez has taken the MotoGP 2026 championship lead after a stunning 102-point comeback at Misano, but Ducati is not getting complacent. Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall'Igna has highlighted the Desmosedici's relative weakness in rear grip, especially with the harder-construction rear tyre.
Marquez, who missed four races in the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury sustained after contact with Marco Bezzecchi at Mandalika, now sits atop the standings tied with Aprilia's Jorge Martin. Bezzecchi dropped 33 points behind after crashing from the lead on Sunday. Despite Marquez's resurgence, Dall'Igna insists the championship is far from over.
"As always, the World Championship ends in Valencia, so until Valencia we have to try to believe and keep pushing," Dall'Igna told Sky Italia. "We knew we had a somewhat peculiar situation at the start of the year... We tried to stay calm, stay focused, try to improve without making too much noise."
Dall'Igna also acknowledged that his team faced difficulties but managed them well. "I think we did well in that regard. And Marc did well because he, too, was very clear-headed and able to do what was necessary to get back on track," he added.
Although officially eight rounds remain on the 2026 calendar, including the rescheduled Qatar event in November, serious doubts linger over whether the Lusail round will take place. Either way, the four 2025 rounds that Marquez missed - Phillip Island, Sepang, Portimao, and Valencia - are still to come. Asked whether Marquez's lack of recent experience at some circuits could be a disadvantage, Dall'Igna replied: "Marc has so much experience that I honestly don't think it's a problem."
A bigger concern is Ducati's relative rear grip weakness against Aprilia on the harder-construction rear tyre earlier this season. The stiffer carcass is set to return for events such as Red Bull Ring, Mandalika, and Phillip Island. "Regarding the tyre construction, let's just say we tend to struggle a bit more with rear grip than others, so that's something we'll have to work on. But I remain positive and confident," he said.
Although many now see the 2026 title as a Marquez versus Martin and Bezzecchi contest, Dall'Igna remains open-minded. "For me, all the riders who are mathematically in contention for the World Championship are competitors and deserve the utmost respect," he said. "I repeat, in my opinion, the main requirement for beating an opponent is to respect them."
Dall'Igna also insisted he never stopped believing Ducati could secure what would be a fifth successive MotoGP riders' title. "I've never stopped believing in it, I've never stopped pushing the whole team," he concluded.
Baca Juga
Marc Marquez dan duo Spanyol lainnya raih triplete ke-50 di MotoGP Misano 2026. Simak sejarah dan dominasi pembalap Spanyol di World Championship.
Pol Espargaro mengaku kelelahan fisik di MotoGP Misano 2026, menyebut mengendarai motor seperti orang tua. Simak analisis lengkapnya di Sportrik.
Analisis mendalam mengapa Marc Marquez sangat kuat di MotoGP 2026: gaya balap halus, dominasi trek anti-clockwise, umpan balik teknis, dan adaptasi Ducati Desmosedici.
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