Alex Marquez will receive the latest factory-spec Ducati machinery for the 2026 MotoGP season, graduating from the year-old bike he and Gresini currently campaign.
The news is little surprise given the exceptional season Alex has enjoyed, with two grand prix wins and seven other Sunday podiums plus a sprint win putting him second in the world championship behind brother Marc and his factory Ducati.
The move up the Ducati pecking order is a direct reward for that performance according to Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall'Igna.
"Alex Marquez's season has been impressive," the veteran engineer said. "After a series of evaluations, Ducati Corse has decided to further increase our support so that the rider and his working group can continue to grow.
"Alex is making the most of the Desmosedici GP's potential, and we are convinced that, with new updates, next year we will continue to improve together. This will be an added value for the whole Ducati family."
However, there's a possibility that the GP26 machine might be something of a Midas' curse for Marquez and Gresini, given the results of the current GP25 bike. Much of this year's design is likely to carry over to 2026 due to MotoGP's frozen engine development rules ahead of the switch to 850cc machines in 2027.
VR46 Ducati's Fabio Di Giannantonio and, most notably, double world champion Pecco Bagnaia have had a much tougher than expected season on the 2025-spec bike, which features significant changes from the more refined 2024 spec that Alex Marquez, rookie team-mate Fermin Aldeguer and second VR46 racer Franco Morbidelli currently ride.
The only racer able to consistently master the GP25 so far has been Marc Marquez, who has dominated the season on the machine but comes without experience of the GP24 bike to make a direct comparison after racing in 2024 on a year-old GP23 as Alex's Gresini Racing team-mate.
It's also not yet certain what impact the news will have on the other Ducati riders on the grid. Aldeguer, who rides for Gresini but is contracted directly to Ducati, has a deal (according to manager Hector Faubel) that says he too will be on the latest factory-spec machinery next season.
And Valentino Rossi's VR46 team is believed to be contractually guaranteed at least one of the latest spec Ducatis, but has reportedly turned that down in favour of staying with what it's currently got (and likely saving substantial money in the process).
This may well mean that Ducati only has to produce one extra GP26 machine next year for Gresini.
from The Race https://ift.tt/gxf4N1k
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