MARC MARQUEZ SAYS HIS BIKE AND TEAM ARE HIS KEY WEAPONS FOR THE 2026 TITLE RUN-IN

Marc Marquez believes the deciding factor in the final stretch of the 2026 MotoGP title fight will be less about individual “talent” and more about the package around him. Asked what his biggest weapon is for the last seven races, the Ducati rider gave a two-part, five-word answer: “My bike and my team.” When the question was reframed to whether it was his talent or experience, Marquez insisted again: “No - my bike and my team”.

Marquez’s comments come as the championship picture tightens. After winning the San Marino Grand Prix, he took the lead in the standings for the first time in 2026, wiping out a 102-point deficit that had existed since the Italian Grand Prix in May. However, momentum has swung back and forth: following Austria, where he finished second in the sprint and fifth in the grand prix, he is now 12 points behind Aprilia’s Jorge Martin.

The Spaniard also acknowledged the physical challenge he has been managing. The right-shoulder issue he has been dealing with this year has been described in recent weeks as serious enough that his surgeon said his arm is at 50% of its maximum capacity.

Looking ahead, Marquez expects the title protagonists to be the top four riders in the championship. Even with fourth-placed Pedro Acosta sitting 72 points behind, Marquez said the fight is still open: “Top four guys are ready to fight for the championship.” He pointed to the way KTM has improved since Silverstone, adding that “since Silverstone, KTM has opened the engines and has good power again,” and that the team is “ready to fight for the championship.”

Marquez also discussed how specific races could shape the final outcome. He expects Ducati to be stronger again in Japan, citing the stop-and-go nature of the circuit and a return to Michelin’s standard rear tyre set to suit the Desmosedici.

But for Acosta, Marquez sees a particularly dangerous window. After his Austria win, he expects the KTM rider to be the favourite for Motegi: “I mean, in Motegi, after this GP, Pedro is again the favourite.” Marquez backed that view with past performances, noting that Acosta has been “very, very fast” there, including a first-year season where he crashed while leading the sprint and then crashed again in the main race while fighting for victory. “So, last year also he was very fast. So, let’s see,” Marquez added.

With the calendar closing in, Marquez summed up the overall mood of the title race: “As I say, top four guys, it will be a tight last seven races.”