News Summary
- Marc Márquez named “my bike and my team” as his greatest weapons in the 2026 title fight.
- The Ducati rider trails Jorge Martín by 12 points with seven rounds remaining.
- Márquez expects Ducati to recover at Motegi but considers Pedro Acosta a victory contender in Japan.
Marc Márquez has identified Ducati and the people around him as his greatest assets in the final seven rounds of the 2026 MotoGP championship.
Asked to name his most important weapon in the fight against Jorge Martín, Márquez offered a direct five-word answer: “My bike and my team.”
When talent and experience were suggested as possible alternatives, the reigning champion repeated his original response.
“No—my bike and my team,” he said.
The answer reflects Márquez’s position after a difficult Austrian GP. Ducati struggled with the different Michelin rear-tyre construction at the Red Bull Ring, while a brake problem left Márquez close to retiring from Sunday’s race.
He eventually finished fifth, limiting the damage on a weekend when Martín secured pole, won the Sprint and placed second in the Grand Prix.
Márquez remains within striking distance
Martín leaves Austria with 306 points, 12 ahead of Márquez. Marco Bezzecchi sits third on 264, while Austrian GP winner Pedro Acosta is fourth with 234.
The deficit remains manageable for Márquez, particularly after the scale of his recovery earlier in the season. He trailed the championship lead by 102 points following the Italian GP in May but erased the entire gap by winning at Misano.
Austria pushed him back into second place, although the latest MotoGP standings underline how close the contest remains with 259 points still available.
The challenge is complicated by Márquez’s physical condition. His surgeon recently revealed that the rider’s right arm is operating at approximately 50% of its maximum capacity following the shoulder problems that have affected him this season.
That makes the strength of the Ducati package and the factory team’s ability to avoid technical setbacks even more important during the decisive Asian rounds.
Márquez refuses to reduce fight to Martín duel
Although Martín and Márquez have separated themselves slightly from the rest, the Ducati rider continues to describe the championship as a four-way battle.
“The top four guys are ready to fight for the championship,” Márquez said, highlighting KTM’s recent progress and Acosta’s victory in Austria.
Acosta remains 72 points behind Martín, but the KTM rider has scored consistently since the summer break and arrives at Motegi after claiming his maiden premier-class victory.
Márquez believes Acosta should be considered one of the favourites in Japan because of his previous speed at the circuit. The Spaniard challenged for victory at Motegi during his rookie season before crashing.
Ducati should also be better suited to the Japanese GP. Motegi’s stop-and-go layout places an emphasis on braking stability and acceleration, while Michelin will return to its standard rear-tyre construction after using a different casing in Austria.
The next chapter of the MotoGP title fight begins at Motegi from October 2–4.
MotoGP today: FAQ
Who leads the 2026 MotoGP World Championship?
Jorge Martín leads with 306 points, 12 ahead of Marc Márquez. Marco Bezzecchi is third on 264.
Who won the 2026 Austrian MotoGP?
Pedro Acosta won at the Red Bull Ring, taking his maiden MotoGP victory ahead of Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi.
When is the next MotoGP race?
The Japanese GP is next at Motegi from 2–4 October 2026, followed by the Indonesian GP at Mandalika one week later.
