MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Former KTM and Pramac team manager Francesco Guidotti has shared his assessment of the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season, highlighting Marc Marquez as the clear favourite while analysing the prospects of Francesco Bagnaia and the adaptation challenge facing Toprak Razgatlioglu.
With the new campaign approaching, predictions are already emerging across the paddock. Guidotti, now observing from outside team management, believes the reigning world champion remains the benchmark heading into the season.
“The favourite remains the world champion; in my opinion, he is clearly the main contender,” Guidotti said, referring to Marquez.
He added that the title fight is unlikely to be limited to one rider, naming Álex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi and Bagnaia among the closest challengers. He also pointed to Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta as potential threats should their machinery prove competitive across the calendar.
Regarding the Japanese manufacturers, Guidotti identified cautious optimism. He suggested Honda appears to be progressing in the right direction, while Yamaha’s completely new project will inevitably require a period of consolidation before delivering consistent results.
On Razgatlioglu, Guidotti offered a measured outlook. While acknowledging the Turkish rider’s exceptional talent, he emphasised the scale of the transition from World Superbike to MotoGP.
“Moving from Superbike to MotoGP is a completely different world; even the riding style is different,” he explained.
Although he believes Razgatlioglu possesses unique ability, Guidotti does not expect an immediate top-five championship finish, particularly given the developmental stage of his machinery.
Turning to Bagnaia, Guidotti described the previous season as atypical and sees encouraging signs during testing. He noted incremental gains from Ducati, arguing that even small improvements on an already dominant package can restore confidence.
“Ducati has taken a small step forward. Improving a bike that is already at the top is difficult, but sometimes small details are enough to give more confidence,” he said.
Guidotti maintains that Bagnaia remains fully deserving of his factory status and could re-emerge as a central figure in the championship battle if consistency is established early in the campaign.
Despite stepping away from the pit wall, Guidotti admitted the emotional intensity of race weekends has not entirely disappeared.
“Sometimes we sleep before the race; usually we don’t,” he joked, reflecting on the familiar tension that accompanies competition.
As MotoGP prepares to launch its 2026 season, Guidotti’s analysis underscores a championship likely to be shaped by technical development, rider adaptability, and the evolving balance of power across manufacturers.
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