Alex Marquez Rules Out Jerez MotoGP 2026 Victory Repeat

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing has dismissed the possibility of repeating his Spanish Grand Prix victory at Jerez, acknowledging that current performance levels make a win unrealistic at this stage of the 2026 MotoGP season.

Marquez’s victory at Jerez in 2025 marked his first in the MotoGP class, but the competitive context has shifted significantly. Entering this weekend, the Spaniard—who reaches his 250th grand prix start across all classes—has yet to score a podium in the opening three rounds, with a clear deficit to Aprilia Racing, which has set the benchmark early in the season.

“Definitely not,” Marquez said when asked about his chances of winning at Jerez.

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“The first part of the season has been a little bit difficult for us, especially in Thailand. It’s true that in Brazil and Austin we were a bit better, but still far away, especially from Aprilia.”

His assessment highlights that, despite ongoing development from Ducati, the overall package has not yet reached the level required to challenge consistently at the front. Marquez emphasised the importance of a structured, incremental approach to closing the gap.

“But I think that we are working in a really good way, Ducati is working really hard.”

Beyond technical factors, Marquez also pointed to the need for personal adaptation. He acknowledged that improvements in riding style and mental approach are necessary to maximise the potential of the current package, rather than focusing excessively on its limitations.

“I also know that as a rider I need to make a step in the riding style and think less about the problems, approach things in a better way, and take more profit from what we have, because there are many positive points.”

He nevertheless identified Jerez as a potential reset point due to its familiarity across the grid, offering a more consistent reference for evaluating performance.

“[Jerez] is the best circuit or the best moment of the season to come back and have a good performance, so we will try to give our best.”

“To repeat last year would be amazing, but at the moment it’s not realistic.”

From a technical standpoint, Marquez highlighted braking performance as the primary limitation of the 2026 Ducati Desmosedici GP. He explained that difficulties in stopping the bike effectively into corners are currently costing him time and consistency.

“Especially I’m struggling a lot with how to brake, how to stop the bike – that’s the thing I’m missing the most because I’m losing a lot in that part of the corner.”

Despite this, he noted that other areas of the bike show measurable improvement compared to last season, particularly in engine performance, which provides greater speed and power output.

“In other areas we are more or less at the same level as last year, even better in the engine, for example, where we are faster and have a bit more power.”

Marquez also underlined that Ducati’s challenge is compounded by the step forward made by Aprilia, which has raised the competitive threshold across the grid.

“Aprilia made a step forward and they are pushing us more to the limit in the most difficult areas.”

With only three races completed and a long season ahead, Marquez stressed the importance of maintaining patience within the development process. He believes that targeted refinements, rather than major changes, could deliver meaningful gains.

“We cannot lose the patience we have. It’s only three races, and the season is very long.”

“I feel that without many big changes, just with small items, we can make a really nice, positive step forward.”

The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez therefore represents a critical evaluation point for both Marquez and Ducati. The combination of race data and the post-race test is expected to define the next phase of development as the championship moves deeper into its European stretch.