Marc Marquez made clear at the Le Mans Thursday media session that he will never blame the bike for his problems in 2026, saying a Ducati won at Jerez which means the machine is capable of winning and fighting for the title. He admitted he is struggling in left-hand corners that were once one of his biggest strengths, but insisted the onus is on him to find ways to improve. He has scored just 57 points in four rounds.

Marc Marquez confirmed new Ducati upgrades will be raced at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, saying he cannot think about the championship without first improving some aspects of his game. He told media he has the speed in moments but lacks the consistency needed for a title challenge, insisting he needs to fix a few things before the championship becomes the focus. New parts brought to Le Mans may be visible as early as Friday.

Marc Marquez has admitted he "cannot think about the championship" until he finds the consistency that defined his 2025 title-winning campaign. Despite two Sprint victories this year, the factory Ducati star trails leader Marco Bezzecchi by 44 points after crashing out of the Spanish GP. Marquez teased that technical upgrades from the successful Jerez test will be raced this weekend at Le Mans to fix his front-end struggles. 

Fabio Quartararo has dismissed the pressure of his ongoing win drought ahead of his home race at Le Mans. The 2021 World Champion, who has already signed a blockbuster move to Honda for 2027, stated he has "nothing to prove" to critics. Instead, the Frenchman is focused on his own recovery and finding personal satisfaction within Yamaha’s challenging V4 development project.

Thursday’s North West 200 Superbike qualifying session was hit with major delays after a red flag incident on the course, with an initial 45 minute stoppage followed by an additional hour delay and then a further 90 minute extension announced at 12:15 BST. Dean Harrison on the Honda was leading the session from Glenn Irwin’s Ducati when the stoppage occurred. Roads are due to reopen by 15:00 BST ahead of three evening races.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta dismissed any notion of a crisis in MotoGP’s commercial negotiations, saying he does not like people who do not negotiate contracts because it shows a lack of intent to fulfil them. He insisted there are no deadlines, adding that by March next year all manufacturers will have their bikes and riders ready regardless. Ezpeleta remains frustrated that manufacturers are demanding a revenue share model that contradicts the fixed payment system he sold to Liberty Media.

Fermin Aldeguer has admitted he now understands why Francesco Bagnaia struggled so much during his final season at Ducati. After switching to the "problematic" GP25-spec machine, the Gresini rookie highlighted severe issues with front-end feel and braking stability. Aldeguer noted that the bike’s inconsistent feedback mirrors the technical hurdles that saw Bagnaia lose confidence before his 2027 move to Aprilia.

MotoGP experts are split on whether Marc Marquez can win the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, with most tipping Jorge Martin or Marco Bezzecchi as the most likely winners. Marquez himself admitted there are many unknowns heading to Le Mans, including the ever-present threat of weather surprises. Seven different MotoGP winners have taken victory at Le Mans since 2019 , and rain could once again change everything on Sunday.