DUCATI MAY NEED TO HOLD BACK VR46 AND GRESINI UPGRADES TO BACK MARC MARQUEZ’S TITLE BID
9 Aug·
Marc Marquez’s approach to the 2026 MotoGP title has been framed as a mix of selective race-winning and damage limitation, and the British Grand Prix underlined both sides of that plan. Ahead of the weekend, Marquez had indicated he did not expect to be fighting for victory at Silverstone. The results matched that expectation: he qualified on the second row, slipped to ninth in the Sprint, and finished seventh in the Grand Prix.
Even with a disappointing outing, Marquez’s championship position remains strong. He is described as still confident of winning the title with a 40-point advantage over Jorge Martin and 10 races remaining. The key issue is that the margin Marquez once enjoyed over his Ducati rivals has narrowed significantly, largely because of the performances of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez.
The article contrasts the current situation with last year’s dominance. When Marquez was crowned champion, he reportedly finished 201 points clear of his brother, 267 ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, and 359 in front of Di Giannantonio. At that time, Alex received factory equipment after his runner-up finish, while Di Giannantonio was not presented as a major threat. This season, however, the competitive landscape within Ducati has shifted. The piece notes that Alex has “only just cleared the 100-point barrier,” yet his progress has still been enough to complicate Marquez’s title defence. Di Giannantonio is also characterised as one of the most improved riders on the grid.
Marquez’s own form is tied to the impact of injury. The report says he is adamant he would be a title contender if not for his serious injury at the Catalan Grand Prix. It also states that after Silverstone, he is only one point ahead of Di Giannantonio, highlighting how quickly the advantage has evaporated.
Looking ahead, the article expects both Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez to remain disruptive in the remaining rounds. It also flags other potential challengers, including the “inconsistent” Bagnaia and the possibility of Fermin Aldeguer when he returns.
Team orders are discussed as a separate, politically sensitive question. The argument for imposing instructions on Bagnaia—who crashed out on Sunday and trails Marquez by 57 points—is described as “overwhelming.” But the bigger concern is said to be inter-team dynamics. The report points to 2024, when Martin and Pramac received Ducati’s full support while battling Bagnaia for the title, noting that the factory advantage then meant a Ducati rider was effectively guaranteed to win.
Now, the situation is portrayed as different: the top three in the championship are all on Aprilia. To maximise Ducati’s chances, the article suggests Ducati may need to prioritise its best title route. With Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez both heading to KTM, the case for backing Marquez is presented as even stronger.
The proposed mechanism is not direct team orders but the withholding of resources: “Short of asking the riders to move over, Ducati could theoretically withhold upgrades or information.” The report acknowledges this would likely damage relationships with the two teams, but frames it as a potential price Ducati might pay if the priority is securing the championship.