The battle for the 2026 MotoGP world championship is entering its decisive phase as the fifth-to-last round of the season gets underway at the historic Phillip Island circuit in Australia. The paddock atmosphere instantly heated up during Thursday's media day as Marc Marquez launched a tactical opening salvo ahead of the action Down Under.
Team instructions became a hot topic of discussion after Aprilia technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini openly hinted that the manufacturer might soon implement team orders to assist championship contender Jorge Martin. Responding to those remarks without directly naming the Noale factory, the Spanish star delivered a clear message regarding speed versus strategic intervention.
"I will always say that we are a team," Marquez declared during the media scrum. "I am together with Ducati, with my team, with my staff, and we try to give our maximum. As for team orders: if you have the speed, you don't need them. If you don't have the speed, then yes, you need them. Right now I am focusing on myself and trying to give 100 percent."
The reigning world champion, who is actively hunting for a historic tenth career title across all classes, reflected on his surprising Sprint victory in Mandalika while admitting he harbored heavy doubts heading into that weekend. His ability to extract maximum performance from his machine kept his championship campaign firmly on track.
"It was a really positive weekend, almost perfect for us because we scored strong points and only lost a few to Marco Bezzecchi on a circuit where I arrived with major doubts," Marquez explained. With unpredictable weather forecasts looming over Phillip Island, the rider remains wary of Aprilia's proven pace from the previous season as the title race intensifies.
Read Also
Luca Marini absen Practice MotoGP Australia 2024 akibat virus. Simak kronologi lengkap dan kondisi terbaru Honda di sini.
Simak analisis lengkap insiden horor Jack Miller di FP1 MotoGP Australia 2026 setelah jadi yang tercepat. Baca selengkapnya di Sportrik!
Pramac ungkap cerita di balik sulitnya membujuk Toprak Razgatlioglu jalani operasi bahu. Baca analisis mendalam dan update MotoGP selengkapnya di sini.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!