Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Ducati denies its 2026 MotoGP bike was built around Marc Marquez
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi rejected claims that the team developed its 2026 MotoGP bike mainly for Marc Marquez.
The claims have grown as Marquez is the only Ducati rider in the championship top five, while Fabio di Giannantonio is sixth, more than 100 points behind him.
Tardozzi said Ducati offers its riders different solutions, and noted that factory rider Pecco Bagnaia uses different bodywork from Marquez.
Aprilia took the top four places at the Indonesian Grand Prix, showing the strength Ducati must contend with.
Marquez left that weekend two points behind championship leader Jorge Martin, the same gap he had before the race.
Ducati says the title fight remains manageable, with 185 points still available and Marquez two points behind.
Tardozzi said the next circuits, especially Phillip Island, will offer more evidence about how Ducati compares with Aprilia.
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi rejected claims that the 2026 MotoGP bike was developed mainly for Marc Marquez.
Tardozzi said Ducati had developed and offered different solutions for individual riders, including factory rider Pecco Bagnaia.
Marquez is the only Ducati rider in the championship top five, with Fabio di Giannantonio more than 100 points behind him in sixth.
After the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika, Marquez remained two points behind championship leader Jorge Martin.
Tardozzi said Aprilia had been significantly superior at Mandalika, where it took the top four places.
- Who
- Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi rejected the claims. The claims concern Marc Marquez and Ducati’s other riders.
- What
- Tardozzi denied that Ducati developed its 2026 MotoGP bike specifically around Marquez.
- When
- After the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika; the article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Mandalika, Indonesia, following the Indonesian Grand Prix.
- Why
- Suggestions arose because Marquez was the only Ducati rider in the championship top five. Tardozzi said riders could choose solutions suited to them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tardozzi said losing around 10 points at a circuit that had not suited Marquez or the Desmosedici GP would be a good outcome.
Tardozzi rejected claims that Ducati had developed the bike around Marquez.
- Article publication
- 13 October 2026
- Ducati riders in championship top five
- Marc Marquez was the only one
- Fabio di Giannantonio
- More than 100 points behind Marquez in sixth
- Marquez’s gap to Jorge Martin
- Two points after Mandalika
- Indonesian Grand Prix
- Aprilia took the top four places
What people are saying
I don't agree at all with those who claim Marc Marquez has steered the bike's development towards himself. It's absolutely not true.
We don't build a bike for Marc Marquez and then expect it to work for everyone. That's not how it works
Clearly, the real problem remains that Aprilia has shown itself to be significantly superior.
Sources
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