MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Gigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati, has dismissed speculation surrounding Marc Marquez’s fitness, stating the reigning world champion will be “100% fit” for the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez this weekend.
After securing his ninth world title, Marc Marquez missed the final rounds of last season due to a right shoulder injury sustained following contact with Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia. Although he returned for pre-season testing, his start to the 2026 campaign has been below expectations.
After three rounds, Marc Marquez sits fifth in the championship standings without a grand prix podium. He has also acknowledged that his recovering shoulder is still limiting his ability to ride at his preferred level.
“It’s clear that [Marquez] had quite a serious injury; he missed five races at the end of the season, so he is still progressing in his rehabilitation,” Dall’Igna told Moto.it.
“But honestly, I see him doing well, and I think he will be 100% fit by Jerez.”
Early-season dominance has been established by Aprilia, led by Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, with the RS-GP winning four of the opening six races, including all three grands prix so far. This has placed additional pressure on Ducati to respond quickly.
Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta of KTM sits third in the standings, followed by Fabio Di Giannantonio from VR46 Ducati. Factory rider Francesco Bagnaia currently occupies ninth place, highlighting the broader challenges faced by Ducati in the early phase of the season.
Dall’Igna also acknowledged the impact of MotoGP’s concession system, which grants rival manufacturers additional technical freedoms due to Ducati’s reduced share of constructors’ points over a rolling period.
“The concession system is designed to rebalance the competition, and it inevitably penalises Ducati, which has made a technical difference in recent years,” he explained.
“But this is not an excuse. We are here to fight for victories, and we must work hard to bring our bike back to being the benchmark in MotoGP.”
From a technical perspective, Ducati has already introduced updates, including a revised rear aerodynamic package and seat wings at COTA. Further developments are expected at Jerez, both during the race weekend and in the official post-race test.
“There will be a test after Jerez, but we will likely also try some solutions during the race weekend,” Dall’Igna added.
“We have several ideas, and we need to understand whether they are the right ones. Monday’s test will be very important.”
Ducati enjoyed strong results at Jerez last season, with Marc Marquez winning the Sprint race, while the main grand prix was claimed by his brother Alex Marquez on the Gresini machine.
With ongoing physical recovery, increasing competitive pressure from Aprilia, and continuous technical development, the Jerez round represents a crucial moment for Marc Marquez and Ducati. The outcome will provide a clearer indication of their ability to return to winning form as the 2026 MotoGP season progresses.
Baca Juga
Alex Marquez mengakui Ducati GP26 lebih menantang dibanding GP24 di awal MotoGP 2026, namun yakin masih ada potensi pengembangan.
Jorge Martin menghadapi MotoGP Spanyol 2026 dengan performa kuat bersama Aprilia, namun mengakui Jerez bisa jadi tantangan terberat musim ini.
Maverick Vinales dipastikan absen di MotoGP Spanyol 2026 setelah operasi bahu, sementara Tech3 kehilangan pengganti akibat cedera Pol Espargaro.
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