Marc Marquez Names Physical Condition as Biggest Rival

Marc Marquez has insisted that his biggest concern in the 2026 MotoGP title fight is not one specific rider, but his own physical condition.

Marquez's title hopes looked heavily compromised after the Italian Grand Prix, when he was 102 points adrift following an injury-disrupted start to the campaign. However, victory in Hungary and misfortune for former championship leader Marco Bezzecchi have reduced that gap to 40 points ahead of the German Grand Prix.

The championship picture is now open again, with 63 points covering the top eight riders. Although several rivals are showing strong pace, the Ducati rider said his main challenge remains managing his recovery and continuing to build his level across the next races.

Read AlsoJohann Zarco Given Double Long Lap Penalty

“My biggest rival, or what I’m more worried about, is my physical condition,” Marquez said on Thursday at the Sachsenring.

“The rest I don’t care. It’s true that they are super-fast, but this is my main opponent: to continue in the next races growing my level.”

Marquez said the approach for the German weekend is different from Assen. He wants to begin from FP1 by understanding his competitive level before judging whether he is strong enough to fight for the podium.

“It’s true that Assen was one mentality; here is a different mentality, starting from FP1, and trying to understand where the level is,” Marquez added. “But I would like to fight for the podium.”

Sachsenring has historically been one of Marquez's strongest circuits, with nine MotoGP victories at the German Grand Prix. Its anticlockwise layout is also considered more favourable for the condition of his right shoulder, although he rejected any suggestion that a strong result can be taken for granted.

“It’s true that when you arrive in this kind of circuit, if you achieve [strong results], [people say], ‘OK, it was his circuit’,” Marquez said.

“If you don’t achieve, it’s a disaster. I’m able to deal with that and try to do our 100%.”

Marquez also acknowledged that Bezzecchi, Jorge Martin and Fabio Di Giannantonio are among the riders ahead of him in the standings who are currently showing strong pace. But after previously considering his title hopes over three races ago, he now feels he is back in contention.

“It’s true that there are three, four riders in front of me [in the standings], but especially three riders who are riding very fast, which are Bezzecchi, Martin and Di Giannantonio,” Marquez said.

“And I continue with my mentality; it was over three races ago. I’m in the game again, so let’s see if here we can do a great weekend.”

Asked whether he would rather keep winning races without another championship or win the next three world titles without a single victory, Marquez chose the title. However, he also made clear that he does not see the prospect of three consecutive championships as realistic.

“Title is title,” Marquez said.

“I mean, victories are victories, but I choose the title of course. But it will not happen, don’t worry. Three in a row - I’m not a superman. I’m OK; I’m good, but I’m not Superman.”

The German Grand Prix now becomes a key checkpoint for Marquez to assess his physical condition and determine whether his points recovery can continue in the 2026 MotoGP title fight.