The 2026 MotoGP campaign has proven to be a demanding journey for Alex Marquez, contrasting sharply with his breakthrough performances last year. Competing with Gresini Racing, expectations were sky-high for the Spaniard to build upon his success after receiving factory-spec machinery from Ducati. However, a combination of physical setbacks and early technical hurdles has hindered his quest for consistent podium finishes.
Having established a reputation as one of the grid's most reliable competitors by finishing in the top two during 17 of 22 weekends last year, the Gresini star now finds himself fighting to regain that footing. With five rounds remaining in the season, he sits eighth in the standings with 172 points, trailing significantly behind his elder brother Marc Marquez and facing a substantial gap to his fellow GP26 rider Fabio di Giannantonio.
Despite the fluctuating results, the Italian squad remains adamant that the rider's raw speed has not vanished. The primary factor holding him back continues to be a compromised right shoulder, stemming from a heavy crash and collarbone fracture following an incident with Pedro Acosta at the Catalan Grand Prix back in May. Operating at anything less than 100 percent physical fitness makes extracting the final margins from a modern MotoGP prototype an immense challenge.
"We know that after winning years, the later years could be tough - at least to repeat the same results," Gresini team manager Michele Masini told Motorsport.com. He emphasized that injuries remain an unavoidable part of the sport, noting that while luck has not favored their garage lately, the underlying speed has consistently reappeared whenever physical recovery allowed.
Prior to the Catalan setback, adapting to the nuances of the GP26 required a steep learning curve during the flyaway rounds. Once the championship returned to European circuits, the breakthrough victory in Jerez proved that the pairing still possessed race-winning potential. The focus now shifts toward maximizing every remaining session to secure strong results as the 2026 season draws to a close.
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