- Marc Marquez continues to struggle with endurance issues following shoulder injury
- Francesco Bagnaia does not have a contract beyond 2026
- Ducati prioritizes contract extension with Marquez
The 2025/2026 MotoGP winter is anything but quiet for Ducati. Sporting issues, physical uncertainties, and strategic personnel decisions are all intertwined. The focus is particularly on the two factory riders, Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, whose situations could hardly be more contrasting.
Marc Marquez and the limits of resilience
The serious incident at the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika in October 2025 continues to affect Marc Marquez to this day. After a collision with Marco Bezzecchi, the Spaniard suffered a complex shoulder injury. In addition to an initially diagnosed broken collarbone, a fracture at the base of the coracoid process and a ligament injury were later discovered.
The consequences were serious. Marquez not only missed the remaining races of the 2025 season, but also the important post-season test in Valencia. It was not until December that the eight-time world champion gradually returned to training. First on a bicycle, then on a flat track bike, and finally on a Ducati Panigale V2 at the Aspar Circuit near Valencia.
Endurance as the central problem
During the Ducati team presentation, Marquez spoke openly about his biggest limitation at the moment. “Clearly endurance,” explained the 32-year-old. While individual training days are already possible at the usual high level, a significant drop in performance is evident on the second day of training. It is precisely this pattern that is currently causing the most concern.
This deficit will be particularly relevant during the upcoming official test in Sepang, which is scheduled to last several days. Marquez describes the transition from the first to the second day as difficult. Consistency over longer distances is not yet a given at this stage. However, the world champion has no doubts about his basic speed. He can immediately get back up to speed for a fast lap, but he still lacks the physical reserves to cover the race distance.
Nevertheless, Marquez is confident. With around a month and a half to go until the season opener in Buriram, he believes he is on the right track. Previous injuries have given him additional confidence that his usual performance will return as his fitness improves.
Contract issue 2027: Ducati sets priorities
Parallel to the sporting preparations, the course is already being set in the background for the period after 2026. Ducati has clearly signaled that extending Marquez’s contract is a top priority. Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi made it clear in Madonna di Campiglio that they want to retain the world champion for the long term.
Marquez himself describes Ducati as his first option, but left open the possibility of other offers. According to Tardozzi, talks are already underway and a decision could be made before the start of the season in Thailand. From the team’s point of view, the close cooperation in the development of the new Desmosedici GP26 clearly speaks in favor of continuing the partnership.
Francesco Bagnaia under growing pressure to succeed
For Francesco Bagnaia, the situation is much more complicated. The double world champion of 2022 and 2023 finished the 2025 season in only fifth place. This meant he lost not only ground in sporting terms, but also bargaining power. His contract expires after 2026, and there have been no talks about an extension so far.
Just two years ago, Ducati took Bagnaia off the market early. Today, the situation is reversed. Marquez is considered the most valuable rider on the team, while Bagnaia finds himself in a group of high-caliber candidates who also have ambitions for a factory seat.
Performance as the only argument
Bagnaia himself remains calm in public. In Madonna di Campiglio, he emphasized that the focus is clearly on the 2026 season. In view of the upcoming rule change and many expiring contracts, it is crucial to start with the right attitude and show performance. Only then will the future become clear.
Team manager Tardozzi confirmed that they had talked intensively with Bagnaia about the difficult 2025 season. After a deliberate break, a detailed analysis was carried out together with Gigi Dall’Igna and Mauro Grassilli. Bagnaia recognized where the problems lay and which areas of development he had not sufficiently understood.
Ducati emphasizes that technical developments will continue to be available to both riders equally. Adjustments to the motorcycle are made individually, and the decision on new parts ultimately lies with the rider himself.
A season with a signal effect
One thing is certain: Ducati does not want to drop Bagnaia. At the same time, it is clear that sporting performance has become the key currency. While Marquez is struggling for physical stability, Bagnaia must perform well on the track to secure his position in the factory team.
The 2026 season will therefore be decisive for both riders. For Marquez, it’s about confirming his leadership role despite the aftermath of his injury. For Bagnaia, more than ever, only one thing counts: consistent results at the top.
What does this mean for me as a MotoGP fan?
For MotoGP fans, this situation means one thing above all else: a season with many unanswered questions and a high level of sporting excitement. At Ducati, uncertainty about Marc Marquez’s physical resilience and the pressure on Francesco Bagnaia to perform are directly at odds with each other. This can affect both the internal dynamics of the factory team and the sporting hierarchy in the field. At the same time, tests, training sessions, and the first races are coming into sharper focus because they provide early indications of who is consistently competitive over race distance. For the course of the season, this means that results are not only valuable for the World Championship, but also serve as a signal for the future of the riders.
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