Marc Marquez is blaming himself, not the Ducati GP26, for his troubled start to 2026. Still managing the shoulder injury he suffered at the 2025 Indonesian GP, Marquez admits he cannot ride naturally in the opening laps and has settled into an unnatural position on the bike. Carlos Checa says something is wrong, while Dovizioso fears there may be no permanent solution. Marquez sits fifth, 36 points adrift.

Fabio Quartararo heaped praise on Toprak Razgatlioglu after the three-time WorldSBK champion beat him to score his first MotoGP point at COTA. Quartararo said Razgatlioglu rode the entire weekend in impressive fashion, calling his style “really like Superbike” and admitting he was genuinely impressed by the performance. Razgatlioglu finished 15th as Yamaha’s top rider, though over 25 seconds behind race winner Bezzecchi.

Aleix Espargaro is in hospital after a serious crash during Honda’s private MotoGP test at Sepang this week. The Honda test rider suffered multiple contusions and fractured four vertebrae in the crash, confirming the news himself on Instagram from his hospital bed. Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami had been testing both the 2026 Honda and its 850cc prototype at Sepang.

Alex Rins hit rock bottom at the US Grand Prix, finishing last in Austin and over 10 seconds behind his nearest Yamaha teammate. All four Yamaha riders filled the final four places in the classification. Rins admitted he felt useless on the bike, saying: “What the hell am I doing here? It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed riding.”

Sachsenring has made run-off modifications ahead of the 2026 German MotoGP, directly triggered by last year’s Moto2 collision between Diogo Moreira and David Alonso. Grass verges at the Omega curve are being replaced with asphalt to allow riders to return to the track in a controlled manner. The German Grand Prix takes place on 10 to 12 July.

MotoGP is pushing manufacturers to introduce permanent reserve riders at every grand prix, taking direct inspiration from Formula 1. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed the promoter has raised the idea with manufacturers , but called it not currently viable. The plan would see one or two reserves travel to every round, ready to step in at factory or satellite level.

Repairs have begun at the Ayrton Senna International Circuit in Goiania following the chaos that plagued MotoGP’s Brazilian Grand Prix in March. The Goias government confirmed asphalt work started Monday, with targeted repairs estimated to take three days. The track must then remain closed for 30 days to allow the new surface to cure properly, keeping Goiania shut until around 10 May.

Maverick Vinales underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to remove a loose screw from his left shoulder, after being forced to withdraw from the US Grand Prix following Friday practice due to severe pain. The Tech3 KTM rider is targeting a return at the Spanish Grand Prix on 25 to 26 April, taking advantage of the extended gap created by the Qatar postponement.