Ducati Lenovo Crew’s Marc Marquez in motion on the Chang Worldwide Circuit throughout dash. Picture: REUTERS
BANGKOK:
Defending champion Marc Marquez launches his bid for a record-equalling eighth MotoGP world title because the season opens this week in Thailand.
The Spaniard capped a exceptional comeback from damage final yr, successful his first championship since 2019 after a gruelling battle that just about compelled him to hold up his helmet.
The 33-year-old Ducati rider was in imperious kind all season, successful 25 races together with sprints and clinching the title with 5 occasions to spare.
Marquez missed the final 4 races of the season after injuring his collarbone on the Indonesia grand prix with the title already within the bag.
Now he is able to go once more, along with his sights firmly set on equalling Italian legend Giacomo Agostini’s report eight premier class world titles.
“We should combat for the title yet another time,” Marquez advised reporters in pre-season testing in Malaysia.
“We’ve got the stress. I imply, if you happen to’re within the Ducati Lenovo workforce then you have to combat for the championship, and that’s what we are going to attempt to do.”
Marquez spent the winter rehabbing from his newest damage and he admitted that he was not fairly again to full health in Malaysia.
He nonetheless put in a powerful efficiency, though it was his brother Alex Marquez who clocked the quickest instances in Sepang.
Alex Marquez completed final season as runner-up and he may effectively problem his brother for the title once more in a area full of expertise.
‘Stoppie’ king
No fewer than 5 present or former world champions will line up on the grid. In addition to Marc Marquez, the record contains Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo and Joan Mir.
Martin received the title in 2024 however his marketing campaign final yr was wrecked by accidents, which have proceed to bother him into the brand new yr.
Bagnaia had a season to overlook, ending fifth total.
The Italian shall be determined to rediscover the shape that led him to the world title in 2022 and 2023, and he mentioned in Malaysia that he was feeling good on his bike.
“Having the ability to journey in the best way I would like and the best way I choose is significantly better, additionally for the technicians who want to know extra our emotions,” mentioned Bagnaia, Marquez’s Ducati team-mate.
“So with this sort of feeling, we will work extra, we will perceive the gadgets.”
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi impressed final season, successful three grands prix total together with the ultimate two of the marketing campaign.
The Italian has made a powerful begin to 2026 and was quickest on the second pre-season take a look at in Thailand final week, setting a brand new lap report in Buriram.
Pedro Acosta of KTM additionally did effectively final yr and he shall be assured of turning his youthful promise into a primary grand prix win this season.
The grid welcomes a brand new face in Toprak Razgatlioglu, a three-time Superbike world champion who is ready to turn into the primary rider from Turkey to compete in MotoGP.
Identified for his gravity-defying “stoppie” celebration, the place he rides balancing solely on his bike’s entrance wheel, the flamboyant 29-year-old brings spectacular talent to the competitors.
Brazil’s Diogo Moreira, final season’s Moto2 world champion, is one other new addition after becoming a member of Professional Honda LCR.
Moreira will get the prospect to race in his house nation as MotoGP returns to Brazil for the primary time since 1992.
This yr’s competitors would be the final earlier than radical new bike laws are launched for the 2027 season.
