Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is looking forward to what he calls an “interesting” title fight between Aprilia teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin as the 2026 season heats up.
Despite being named by Martin as the rider to watch at this weekend’s Balaton Park round—even as he continues to recover from shoulder injuries—Marquez was quick to redirect the spotlight:
“The guys to beat are both Aprilias,” he insisted.
Both Bezzecchi and Martin are leading the championship race, fresh from delivering a commanding one-two finish for Aprilia at Mugello last weekend. Bezzecchi’s fourth win of the season has given him a 17-point advantage over Martin in the standings.
Meanwhile, other contenders have fallen back: Fabio di Giannantonio is now 39 points adrift, while Marquez himself trails by 102 points after battling injuries throughout the season.
Marquez admits he’s not currently in the title mix, but he expects the battle between the consistent Bezzecchi and the experienced Martin to deliver fireworks:
“Martin already knows what it takes to be world champion,” said Marquez. “But Marco is incredibly consistent, and that makes this fight all the more intriguing.”
Looking ahead to Hungary, Marquez downplays his own chances:
“If I am able to keep up with them, it means they are not at their best. When they’re on form, they’re simply much faster than me.”
Marquez also noted that Aprilia’s rise isn’t a sudden surprise, pointing to Bezzecchi’s strong performances in the latter half of last year as a sign of the team’s progression:
“Since last summer, Aprilia and especially Marco have been my main opponents. He was the man to beat in races like Austria, Brno, and Misano.”
As Marquez continues to recover, he hopes to get back to his best and take full advantage of his bike’s potential. However, he acknowledges that Aprilia’s factory duo are setting the pace as the title race intensifies.
Marquez’s last grand prix victory came at Misano last season, but all eyes are now on the fascinating Bezzecchi vs. Martin duel for MotoGP supremacy.
