CARL FOGARTY BACKS MARC MARQUEZ TO WIN THE 2026 MOTOGP TITLE OVER JORGE MARTIN

Carl Fogarty has tipped Marc Marquez to win the 2026 MotoGP championship, framing the title fight as a contest between the Repsol Honda rider and Jorge Martin, despite Martin currently leading the standings.

Heading into the final European race of the season, Marquez is 19 points behind Martin. The gap had been much larger earlier in the year, when Marquez’s campaign was disrupted by injury and surgery. Since returning to action at Mugello, he has surged back into contention with four race wins, even though he is still not fully fit. Fogarty’s view is that Marquez’s recent form outweighs the physical limitations, with the key issue being his right arm, which he reportedly struggles with especially through right-hand corners.

Martin, meanwhile, has been the more consistent points collector and is described as leading the charge. His season output includes one Grand Prix win and a total of six podiums, along with three Sprint victories. Fogarty acknowledged Martin’s position but highlighted what he sees as inconsistency, saying: “Still can’t see past Marquez, to be honest. I still think he’ll win it. ‘He’s about 30 points behind, I think now, or something, from Martin, who’s inconsistent. Yeah, I wouldn’t bet against Marquez, to be fair, definitely not.’”

The article also notes that Martin’s championship push is tied to his ability to convert his lead into a decisive weekend. While he has the advantage in the table, his only Grand Prix win so far came at Le Mans. The next step, according to the reporting, is that Martin will need to raise his performance if he wants to secure the title, particularly with Marquez in strong form and with teammate Marco Bezzecchi also identified as a threat.

From Aprilia’s perspective, the final European round at Misano is presented as a race that could “fall nicely into Aprilia’s hands” as they look to secure their first MotoGP title. The outcome, however, will depend on whether the riders can maximize their weekends.

Martin is also portrayed as mentally prepared for the challenge, with the report stating that he will not dwell on losing to Marquez and is in a good place mentally. Meanwhile, Marquez’s quest is for a 10th premier-class crown, and Fogarty’s confidence suggests he believes the Spaniard can overcome both the points deficit and his ongoing fitness concerns.