MELANDRI SAYS APRILIA’S CONSISTENCY MAKES THEM WORTHY TITLE CONTENDERS

Marco Melandri believes Aprilia have earned the right to be considered favourites for the 2026 MotoGP constructors’ title, pointing to their greater consistency across the season compared with Ducati.

The contest remains close: Aprilia lead the standings by six points, with both manufacturers having won eight races. Melandri said Aprilia “deserve to win the constructors’ world championship” because they have regularly had different riders fighting near the front. By contrast, he argued, Ducati’s results have depended heavily on Marc Marquez.

“Whilst Ducati have recently been without Marquez, Alex was very close here; Alex is often very close to Marc, but the others are starting to struggle,” Melandri said. He also praised Fabio Di Giannantonio’s recovery in the sprint, noting that the Italian could have been quick in the Sunday race thanks to his tyre management. But, Melandri added, “when Ducati isn’t performing at its best, everyone really struggles, whereas Aprilia is more consistent.”

Aprilia’s four riders have all won a Grand Prix this year. Marco Bezzecchi has taken five victories, while Jorge Martin, Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez have also won. Ducati’s eight wins include six for Marc Marquez, with Alex Marquez and Di Giannantonio claiming one apiece. The source describes Marc as the only Ducati rider to have consistently contested the front of the field. Di Giannantonio is 113 points behind him, Francesco Bagnaia has struggled with the GP26, and injuries have affected Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer. Franco Morbidelli has also found it difficult on the GP25.

The riders’ championship is also finely poised after the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled. Marc Marquez holds a 10-point lead, strengthened by his sprint victory, while Martin crashed and sustained a non-displaced fracture to his radius. Martin is trying to be fit for the Malaysian Grand Prix, where doctors will assess him. Missing Sepang could severely damage his title hopes, particularly with the Qatar round’s status in doubt.

Ducati’s owners have a commercial incentive to take the constructors’ crown: it would allow them to promote their production motorcycles as world champions and display the number-one mark at Borgo Panigale. Melandri’s assessment is that Ducati will need contributions beyond Marc Marquez if they are to overhaul Aprilia.