Ducati Rejects Crisis Talk After Jerez MotoGP 2026 Revival

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Ducati Lenovo Team has dismissed suggestions of a crisis at the start of the 2026 MotoGP season, with team manager Davide Tardozzi pointing to clear signs of recovery during Friday practice at Jerez.

Ducati arrived at the Spanish Grand Prix without a grand prix victory since last year’s Malaysian round and with only one Sunday podium from the opening three races of 2026. This contrasts sharply with the form of Aprilia Racing, which has secured five consecutive grand prix wins through Marco Bezzecchi.

However, performance at Jerez suggested a shift in competitiveness. Alex Marquez topped the Friday timesheets by a significant margin, while Ducati placed five riders inside the top ten, underlining improved overall pace.

Baca JugaStarting Grid Sprint MotoGP Jerez 2026 Dipimpin Marquez

“We are leading with Alex Marquez, who set an extraordinary lap. We have five riders in the top ten, and that is a good sign,” Tardozzi told Sky Italia.

He explained that the team had undertaken a series of technical discussions and adjustments in recent weeks, resulting in changes that are now delivering tangible improvements, including benefits for satellite teams.

“Over the last month, we had constructive discussions to make changes to the bike, and those have proven very useful, as demonstrated today by the satellite teams,” he added.

Tardozzi firmly rejected the notion that Ducati had been in crisis, while acknowledging the performance gains made by its main rival.

“We have never had a real crisis, but we must give credit to our rivals. Aprilia has made a huge step forward. But Ducati is still there,” he stated.

Despite the improved showing, Ducati’s factory team is currently experiencing its longest Sunday podium drought in over a decade, with neither Marc Marquez nor Francesco Bagnaia finishing on the rostrum since last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

To address performance deficits, Ducati has introduced electronic updates aimed at improving braking performance on the GP26. However, several riders, including Marquez and Bagnaia, have indicated that some underlying issues remain unresolved.

Marquez has also cautioned that his chances of securing a podium at Jerez remain limited at this stage, as he continues to trail the pace shown by Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio during Friday running.

With momentum beginning to shift, Ducati will target a stronger result in qualifying, including a potential third pole position of the season following earlier successes in Brazil and the United States.

The outcome at Jerez will provide a key indication of whether Ducati’s recent developments are sufficient to close the gap to Aprilia and re-establish itself as a consistent front-runner in the 2026 MotoGP championship.