Marc Marquez pointed to Alex Marquez’s profitable tempo at Jerez as proof that MotoGP improvement should proceed transferring ahead, fairly than following the “really feel” of the previous.
Alex Marquez nonetheless does not really feel as snug within the GP26 as he did in final yr’s GP24, however the Gresini rider gained the Spanish MotoGP with a race time 7.5 seconds quicker than his win final yr.
Most Ducati riders are nonetheless in search of improved front-end really feel, and that is an space the place the GP24 significantly excels.
The logical transfer would possibly subsequently be to “rewind” the event to GP24 specs, however reigning champion Marquez mentioned that whereas that was nonetheless a chance, it could be a mistake.
“On the Catalunya check (that yr), I solely drove twice in quantity 24, after which I jumped straight to quantity 25,” Marquez mentioned at Monday’s Jerez check.
“However ultimately, what I understood from the engineers is you can run a 24 bike. It’s only a mixture of components… It’s principally the identical bike. Then if you wish to return, you may come again.”
Marquez confused that bettering lap instances throughout the sector means improvement can’t be stopped.
“This yr, Alex right here in Jerez was seven seconds quicker in 26 than in 24,” he mentioned.
“So once I went again to competing…I at all times (keep in mind) how I felt that yr once I gained on the bike, and it was superb.
“However then our opponents are selecting up tenths and tenths, and we have to hold transferring ahead.”
Though Marc and teammate Pecco Bagnaia had been unable to finish Sunday’s Grand Prix, Alex was not the one Desmosedici GP26 rider to make important progress from the earlier yr.
VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio completed third with a race time 9.0 seconds quicker than his fifth place in final yr’s GP25.
Nevertheless, the rider who made the largest enchancment was Aprilia title chief Marco Bezzecchi, who suffered his first Grand Prix defeat of the yr however was nonetheless a major 30 seconds quicker than in 2025.
This consists of going via gravel traps final yr. However even when you subtract that mistake from final yr’s race time, Bezzecchi was nonetheless about 12 seconds quicker in 2026.
Different comparable Aprilia riders additionally made important progress, with trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez 22 seconds quicker and teammate Ai Ogura clocking 8.5 seconds.
The identical Aprilia trio then occupied the highest three positions in Monday’s check.
“The truth that we began the yr with three completely different race tracks, three completely different layouts and three completely different tire casings and the winner was Aprilia means the bike is working properly,” Marquez mentioned.
“Not simply Bezzecchi, but additionally Ogura, Fernandes and Martin.
“So, as we noticed at present, Ducati is working and we try to enhance as a group.
“However final Sunday, the winner (Alex Marquez) was on a Ducati,” he reiterated.
Marc Marquez was the quickest Ducati within the check in fourth place.
