Marquez Not Thinking About Title Before Le Mans

Marc Marquez admits he cannot yet focus on the 2026 MotoGP title fight ahead of the French Grand Prix at Le Mans because the Ducati Lenovo Team still needs to solve several weaknesses with his Desmosedici GP package.

The reigning world champion arrives at Le Mans trailing by 44 points in the standings after crashing out of the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. The situation further complicates Marquez’s difficult start to the season, with the Spaniard still searching for his first grand prix podium despite already securing two Sprint victories.

However, Ducati identified encouraging development directions during the post-race Jerez test. Marquez even confirmed that several new components from that test have now been brought to Le Mans and could be raced during the weekend.

Read AlsoMotoGP Revenue Surges Under Liberty Media in 2026

“Some of them maybe you will see on the bike during the weekend,” Marquez told MotoGP.com.

From a technical perspective, Ducati is currently focusing on improving overall bike balance and performance consistency across different circuit layouts and weather conditions. Le Mans is viewed as an important evaluation point because its stop-and-go nature and potential rain conditions create very different demands compared to Jerez.

Marquez explained that his biggest issue is not outright speed, but the inability to consistently maintain competitive performance across the entire race weekend. While he believes he can fight at the front during certain sessions, the overall consistency required for a championship challenge is still missing.

“I cannot think about the championship before improving some aspects,” Marquez admitted.

The Spaniard also acknowledged Ducati is continuing to search for an ideal setup to improve front-end feeling and stability during critical phases of corner entry and race management. The inconsistency has contributed to fluctuating performances between Sprint races, qualifying, and the main grands prix.

Ducati nevertheless remains optimistic about the potential of its latest development package after the Jerez test produced promising early feedback. Several aerodynamic and chassis balance solutions are now being evaluated further under the different conditions expected at Le Mans.

Beyond the technical concerns, Marquez confirmed he suffered no physical consequences from his crash at Jerez. He described the accident as relatively harmless physically despite the important championship points lost.

“The Monday test was very interesting and we tried to understand the correct development direction,” Marquez explained.

Historically, Le Mans has been considered a circuit well suited to Ducati machinery because of its heavy braking zones and short acceleration phases. However, the possibility of wet weather throughout the weekend is expected to make both performance and race strategy far more unpredictable.

With Marquez still searching for consistency while Ducati introduces fresh upgrades, the French Grand Prix is now emerging as one of the defining moments in determining whether the reigning champion can realistically rejoin the core battle for the 2026 MotoGP title.