Ducati Win at Jerez Overshadowed by Double DNF

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Gigi Dall’Igna of Ducati described the team’s first grand prix victory of the 2026 season as overshadowed by “great bitterness” following double retirements for its factory riders at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The win, delivered by Alex Marquez, ended Aprilia’s winning streak, but the main race exposed a contrasting outcome for the factory squad. After securing a strong Sprint result through Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, both riders failed to finish Sunday’s race, resulting in a significant points loss in the championship standings.

Marc Marquez crashed from second position early in the race, while Bagnaia was forced to retire due to a technical issue. The result widened the gap to championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, increasing pressure on Ducati’s title campaign despite its return to the top step of the podium.

Baca JugaMarc Marquez Bingung Penyebab Crash di Jerez

"We return to the top of the podium for the first time this year thanks to an outstanding Alex Marquez, with Di Giannantonio also delivering an excellent performance," Dall’Igna stated.

"But there remains great bitterness for our riders' grand prix. We recorded a double zero, and those two DNFs were very costly for us."

While the factory team struggled, satellite operations played a key role in maintaining Ducati’s competitive presence. Fabio di Giannantonio moved into third in the championship standings, overtaking Pedro Acosta, although still trailing Bezzecchi by a notable margin.

"It could and should have been a different Sunday for our factory team, but it turned out to be doubly disappointing. The Gresini and VR46 teams upheld Ducati’s name, and we congratulate them," he added.

Despite Ducati’s victory, Aprilia continued to demonstrate strong overall performance, with all four of its riders finishing inside the top six. This underlines the increasingly competitive landscape, where performance gains are distributed across multiple manufacturers rather than concentrated within a single dominant team.

Dall’Igna also confirmed that Ducati will continue to push forward with development of the GP26, particularly following the post-race test at Jerez. Several aerodynamic innovations were evaluated, with selected updates expected to be introduced in upcoming races.

"We must improve and continue our efforts to give our riders something extra. The Monday test was fundamental, with many aerodynamic innovations tested, some of which will be used in the next races," he explained.

With the championship battle intensifying and performance margins tightening, Ducati faces increasing pressure to optimise its package. The outcome at Jerez serves as a critical reference point as the MotoGP field moves into the next phase of the 2026 season.