Aprilia’s rise in MotoGP is now backed by strong 2026 results. Marco Bezzecchi has already won multiple races this season, including the United States Grand Prix. Jorge Martin also secured a Sprint victory and finished second in the main race, giving Aprilia a 1-2 finish. In that race Marc Marquez finished fifth after a penalty, while Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia failed to score strongly.
Giacomo Agostini has revealed what Marc Marquez told him in private about his retirement threshold. Agostini shared that Marquez told him if he had to fight for fifth or sixth place he would retire, because for Marquez the minimum acceptable goal is the podium. After finishing fifth at COTA and sitting 36 points behind Bezzecchi, that conversation is landing differently in 2026.
Marc Marquez told Spanish radio show Onda Cero he would sign to retire right now without any more injuries, adding that when you are injured you are in a cage. The seven time world champion admitted his shoulder surgery affected his pectoral and deltoid muscles, leaving him unable to brake and corner the way he needs to compete at the front.
Yamaha are also targeting Jerez as their moment to fight back. The Japanese manufacturer will not have an upgraded V4 engine ready until the Spanish Grand Prix at the earliest, leaving their riders at a significant top speed disadvantage for the first four rounds of 2026. Jack Miller says Yamaha engineers are heading back to Japan now to push development as hard as possible before Spain.
Fermin Aldeguer is leaving Gresini and joining VR46 for the 2027 MotoGP season. The young Spaniard has agreed a new deal with Ducati that includes a significant increase in salary and bonuses. He stays within the Ducati family but moves up to Valentino Rossi’s team for the start of MotoGP’s 850cc era. His departure leaves Gresini without a rider and, for now, without a bike deal for 2027.
Ducati are planning to bring new upgrades to the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez after a nightmare start to 2026. Test rider Michele Pirro has already been spotted testing new parts at the Spanish circuit. Ducati are allowed one aero upgrade for the season and Jerez is also an official test day, giving them the best chance to close the gap on Aprilia.
Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini delivered one of the best battles of the Austin GP. Starting 12th, Bastianini fought through the field and locked horns with Marquez in a fierce fight from lap 14 onwards, trading passes until the final lap. Bastianini said when Marquez overtook him it motivated him to push even harder. Marquez held on to finish fifth. Bastianini crossed the line in sixth.
The team that Fausto Gresini built spent the best part of 2025 as one of the most exciting stories in MotoGP. Alex Marquez finished runner up in the championship. Fermin Aldeguer arrived from Moto2 as one of the most coveted young talents in the sport. The Faenza garage was buzzing.Twelve months later, both riders are leaving. The bikes for 2027…
Jonathan Rea will make a second appearance in 2026 at the Dutch Round in Assen on 17 to 19 April, again standing in for Jake Dixon, whose return has been pushed back to the Hungarian Round in May. Rea has 17 wins at Assen and will be hoping the extra recovery time puts him in far better shape than Portimao.
Jonathan Rea came out of retirement to race for Honda at Portimao, standing in for injured Jake Dixon. The six time champion admitted he was not ready for the weekend after missing the top ten in all three races, revealing he had undergone two surgeries since his retirement and that 20 lap race distances came as a physical shock.