BIAGGI WARNS MARTIN ABOUT MARQUEZ AS THE DUCATI STAR PRAISES HIS RIVAL

Jorge Martin heads into the final five rounds of the 2026 MotoGP season with only a two-point advantage over Marc Marquez, leaving Aprilia’s bid for its first premier-class title finely balanced. The next stop is Phillip Island this weekend, followed by races in Malaysia and Qatar, although the Qatar round is not certain to go ahead.

The standings tightened after the Indonesian Grand Prix. Marquez won the Sprint, while Martin’s tyre-pressure problems forced him to give up the lead. Martin recovered to finish third on Sunday, with Marquez sixth, so neither gained ground in the title contest. It was Marquez’s first Grand Prix finish in Mandalika. The Ducati rider has won six of the last 11 races, underlining the threat he poses as the season reaches its decisive stretch. He is also seeking to preserve Ducati’s run of riders’ titles, which stretches back to 2021.

Aprilia ambassador Max Biaggi believes Martin cannot afford to underestimate his rival. Speaking to Gazzetta Motori, the four-time 250cc world champion described Marquez as “the most formidable rider” in MotoGP. Biaggi called the championship “brilliant” and praised the close fight, noting that three riders remain in contention and that two of them are leading on Aprilias. He also pointed to Ducati’s continued strength.

Biaggi offered a mixed assessment of Aprilia’s title hopes. He said Marco Bezzecchi’s poor run had cost him “around a hundred points”, a major loss in a championship campaign. Martin, meanwhile, was “a bit less incisive” and, in Biaggi’s view, “not the fastest” at present, though he has been more consistent. Bezzecchi is now 46 points behind the leading pair.

Martin has just one victory so far this season, but he has looked increasingly comfortable on the RS-GP after a difficult, injury-hit 2025. Marquez, who rode a year-old Ducati GP23 in 2024 while Martin had the factory GP24, says access to Ducati’s rider data gave him a close look at Martin’s ability. “He was one of those who impressed me the most, in terms of how he rode and what he was capable of doing,” Marquez said. He noted that Martin’s braking-focused style is similar to his own and praised his determination: “He’s a rider who doesn’t back down, a warrior.”

Martin said it was an honour to hear such praise from Marquez and to be fighting him for the championship. “I firmly believe that Marc is the one who makes me better, because to beat him I have to bring out the best in myself,” he said, adding that he hoped they could compete against each other for many more years.

The 2024 champion does not expect the closing races to trouble him, yet he will need to maintain his form to keep Marquez behind. The Australian, Malaysian and potentially Qatari rounds will test both riders, particularly given that Marquez missed four of the final five races last year after injuring his shoulder in Indonesia. Marquez has never lost a head-to-head championship battle, while Martin is aiming to deliver Aprilia its first premier-class crown.

Alex Marquez expects Aprilia to be strong in Australia, Qatar and Portugal, but said his brother would need to use his “usual tricks” against the rival team. With so little separating the title contenders, the remaining rounds leave little room for mistakes.