Pedro Acosta believes reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will remain the benchmark in 2026, even as he continues his recovery from injury.
Marquez dominated the 2025 season with the factory Ducati team, securing 11 grand prix victories and 14 sprint wins on his way to a seventh world championship title. It was his first championship success in six years, following the serious arm injury he suffered at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.
However, Marquez’s title-winning campaign ended prematurely after he sustained a complicated shoulder fracture in a crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix, just one week after sealing the championship. Despite the setback, his recovery has progressed well enough for him to take part in the upcoming Sepang test, although questions remain over his physical condition.
Acosta is convinced the injury will not change Marquez’s status at the top of the field. He pointed to Marquez’s ability to return from years without a title and immediately win the championship on a factory bike as proof of his strength.
While Acosta acknowledged that riders such as Marco Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia will all be contenders in the title fight, he stressed that Marquez remains the reference point for everyone heading into the new season.
Acosta also spoke about his own development, highlighting his work with former racer Carmelo Morales since last season. He credited the collaboration for helping him make his biggest step forward mentally and confirmed he will continue working with Morales in 2026 after what he described as a very strong partnership over the winter.
