Marc Marquez has identified his bike and team as his biggest strengths in the 2026 MotoGP title fight, while warning that the final seven races of the season will be extremely tight. The Ducati rider currently trails Jorge Martin by 12 points after losing the championship lead following the Austrian Grand Prix.
Marquez had taken the championship lead for the first time this season by winning the San Marino Grand Prix, overturning a 102-point deficit that had separated him from the top of the standings since the Italian Grand Prix in May. However, his second-place finish in the Austrian sprint followed by fifth in the main race allowed Martin to move back ahead.
Asked about his biggest weapon for the final seven races, Marquez did not point to his talent or experience. Instead, he highlighted the strength of his technical package and the support of his team.
“My bike and my team,” Marquez said when asked about his biggest strength in the title fight.
When asked whether he considered his talent or experience to be a bigger weapon, Marquez repeated his answer.
“No - my bike and my team,” he added.
Marquez also believes the championship fight remains open among the top four riders. Pedro Acosta is fourth and 72 points behind the leader, but his victory in Austria showed that the KTM rider remains part of the title battle.
The Ducati rider pointed to KTM's progress since Silverstone, particularly after the manufacturer reopened its engines and regained competitive power. That improvement has helped Acosta return to the level required to challenge at the front.
“The top four guys are ready to fight for the championship. As we see with Pedro, for example, since Silverstone, KTM has opened the engines and has good power again. They are ready to fight for the championship,” Marquez said.
Looking ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, Marquez believes Acosta will be the rider to watch after his victory in Austria. He highlighted Acosta's previous pace at the Japanese circuit, where the KTM rider had already shown strong performance in his first two MotoGP appearances.
“In Motegi, after this GP, Pedro is again the favourite. Because every year he has been very, very fast there. So, let's see. As I say, top four guys, it will be a tight last seven races,” Marquez said.
The championship fight is also continuing while Marquez manages a right shoulder problem. The severity of the issue became clearer in recent weeks, with his surgeon stating that his arm is operating at around 50 percent of its maximum capacity.
With seven races remaining, Marquez now trails Martin by 12 points following the Austrian round, while Acosta remains within the broader championship fight ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
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