Jorge Martin Predicts Ducati Revival at Jerez 2026

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Jorge Martin of Aprilia Racing believes Ducati will return to its usual competitive level when MotoGP heads to Jerez, following an inconsistent start to the 2026 season for the Italian manufacturer.

Ducati has struggled to match Aprilia’s race pace across the opening three rounds, particularly on Sundays. While it secured a sprint victory in Brazil and additional podiums in shorter races, Ducati has managed just one grand prix podium so far, courtesy of Fabio Di Giannantonio with VR46 Racing Team.

This represents a significant contrast to the same stage last season, when Ducati dominated both sprint and grand prix formats. Reigning world champion Marc Marquez has yet to secure a top-three finish in a Sunday race, underlining the shift in competitive balance.

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In contrast, Aprilia has established itself as the benchmark on race day, with Marco Bezzecchi delivering a hat-trick of grand prix victories in Thailand, Brazil, and the United States. The consistency of Aprilia’s race execution has been a defining factor in the early championship phase.

“At Jerez, everything will return to normal,” Martin told DAZN.

“Ducati will return to normal.”

Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna described the United States Grand Prix as a “wake-up call,” indicating internal recognition of the need to accelerate development and address performance deficits ahead of the European rounds.

Martin himself has emerged as one of the standout performers of the opening phase, rebounding strongly after an injury-affected 2025 campaign. Despite missing key pre-season testing, he secured a podium in Brazil, followed by a sprint victory at COTA and a second-place finish in the grand prix.

“Coming into Austin, I didn’t expect this,” Martin said.

“We weren’t ready. The plan was to stay under the radar and keep scoring points.”

He now sits just four points behind Bezzecchi in the championship standings, positioning himself as a key contender while maintaining a measured approach to the season’s progression.

As MotoGP prepares for its European opener at Jerez, Ducati’s response will be closely scrutinised. The Spanish Grand Prix is expected to provide a clearer indication of whether the competitive order seen in the opening rounds will stabilise, or if a shift in performance balance is imminent heading into the next phase of the 2026 season.