- Marco Bezzecchi wins five races in a row and leads the championship with 81 points
- Andrea Dovizioso warns: Marquez’s physical condition is “much more serious than it seems”
- Maverick Viñales has a loose screw removed from his shoulder after withdrawing from Austin
- Nicolò Bulega’s dream of a MotoGP promotion with Ducati is fading
After the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, one thing is clear: the balance of power in MotoGP’s premier class has shifted. Aprilia has surged to the front of the field with impressive early-season form, Ducati is searching for answers, and two riders are dealing with shoulder problems. On top of that, the 2027 rider market is already in full swing, even though the current season has barely begun.
Bezzecchi and Aprilia Make History
What Marco Bezzecchi has delivered in the first three race weekends of the 2026 season is historic. The 27-year-old Italian won his fifth consecutive Grand Prix in Austin, leading every single one from pole position to the chequered flag. In total, Bezzecchi has led 121 consecutive laps. These are numbers that put him in the company of legends like Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, and Giacomo Agostini.
He is the first rider since 1992 to lead five consecutive races from start to finish. He is also the first rider since Marc Marquez in 2014 to win the first three races of the season, and the first Italian since Rossi in 2001 to achieve this feat.
Bezzecchi appeared almost overwhelmed after the race: “I’m speechless. It’s really hard to describe my feelings.” Hearing his own name mentioned in the same breath as such legends felt “quite strange.” At the same time, he described the current run as “a privilege and also pressure,” particularly in direct comparison with Marc Marquez, whom Bezzecchi called “the fastest and strongest rider on the grid.”
Despite the record-breaking run, the championship leader remains self-critical. On Saturday, he crashed in the sprint race and temporarily lost the overall lead to Jorge Martin. “Yesterday you saw my limit. When you want a little too much, it’s very close,” he admitted. The line between maximum attack and error is extremely thin, “and it’s not easy to always stay below it.” As long as mistakes like the sprint crash keep happening, Bezzecchi said he doesn’t want to consider himself a title contender.
For Aprilia as a manufacturer, the current phase also marks a milestone. In Austin, the Noale factory celebrated a one-two finish and its eleventh overall victory in the MotoGP premier class. It was also Aprilia’s second win at Austin after Maverick Viñales’ triumph in 2024 and the first time the manufacturer had won five consecutive MotoGP races.
Rivola Urges Caution Despite Aprilia Dominance
Aprilia racing boss Massimo Rivola assessed the situation with a mix of pride and restraint. “What a fantastic day here in Austin. We have two fantastic riders and a great motorcycle,” he said. For the moment, it was clear that the best motorcycle was the Aprilia. At the same time, Rivola noted that they needed to get the Saturday performance under control. On Sunday, Bezzecchi was perfect, but on Saturday, not yet.
A blemish remained despite the one-two finish: Ai Ogura from the Trackhouse team retired from the race with a technical failure despite running on course for a podium finish. “That’s something very disappointing. It shows that we need to keep improving,” said Rivola. The chance to have three Aprilias on the podium went unused.
For the next Grand Prix in Jerez at the end of April, the racing boss expects a new challenge. Traditionally, many teams bring further upgrades at the start of the European season, which could shift the balance of power. Rivola remained confident nonetheless: “We will be ready.”
Dovizioso Warns: Marquez’s Situation “Much More Serious Than It Seems”
While Aprilia goes from victory to victory, reigning world champion Marc Marquez continues to struggle with the consequences of his shoulder injury. The Ducati factory rider injured his right shoulder at the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix when he was taken out by Marco Bezzecchi at the start. Since then, Marquez has admitted he is no longer at one hundred percent and is trying to figure out what his “new 100 percent level” even is.
After three race weekends, the 33-year-old sits fifth in the overall standings with 45 points, already 36 behind championship leader Bezzecchi. In Austin, despite the Circuit of the Americas being one of his strongest tracks, he could only manage fifth place. Marquez himself admitted after the race that he “can no longer make the difference.” Even without the long-lap penalty he had to serve during the race, he would have managed the podium at best, not the victory.
For context: last year, Marquez crashed while leading in Austin after building a 2.2-second gap over second-placed Francesco Bagnaia within just eight laps. Bezzecchi, by contrast, was never more than 1.3 seconds ahead of his nearest pursuer Jorge Martin last Sunday, except for the final lap. The dominance Marquez had shown at this venue in previous years was simply absent in 2026. Overall, his Austin record stands at seven wins and three crashes while leading, including his very first MotoGP race in 2013.
Someone who knows Marquez particularly well considers the situation concerning: Andrea Dovizioso, three-time MotoGP runner-up between 2017 and 2019, each time behind Marquez. The two fought an intense battle at the top of the premier class during those years before Marquez’s career was interrupted by his serious arm injury in 2020. Dovizioso remains closely involved in the paddock as a Yamaha test rider, where he works on the Japanese manufacturer’s V4 engine project alongside Fabio Quartararo.
In an interview with the Italian portal Moto.it, Dovizioso spoke bluntly after the Austin weekend: “Marc is one of those riders who never complain and never look for excuses. So it’s not entirely clear how he really feels and how big his problems are.” He believed the situation was “much more serious than it seems.” Even during last year’s championship title, Marquez had not been at one hundred percent. “He still has a lot of physical catching up to do. The crash in Indonesia probably made the limitation in his arm even worse. And there might be no solution for that.”
As a key moment, Dovizioso pointed to the Austin weekend: “Austin confirmed it definitively. At a place where he should have made the difference, he couldn’t.”
Three-Week Break as a Chance for Marquez
Whether Dovizioso’s assessment proves correct could become apparent soon. Due to the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix to November, Marquez now has three race-free weeks before the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez at the end of April. The break offers an opportunity for rehabilitation, but the clock is ticking. If Marquez fails to return to top form in Jerez, a difficult season looms. After Jerez, six Grands Prix follow within eight weeks before the summer break, starting with the French Grand Prix.
The championship standings after three rounds reflect the current situation: Bezzecchi leads with 81 points ahead of Martin with 77, Pedro Acosta with 60, Fabio Di Giannantonio with 50, and Marquez with 45 points.
Viñales on the Road to Recovery After Shoulder Surgery
Marquez is not the only one dealing with shoulder problems. Maverick Viñales had to withdraw early from the Austin weekend after the pain in his left shoulder became unbearable. The 31-year-old Red Bull Tech3 KTM rider subsequently underwent surgery at the clinic in Sassuolo in the province of Modena. A roughly two-centimeter-long screw was removed that had come loose and migrated to another position.
“It already feels much better now,” Viñales said just hours after the procedure. “The screw has been removed from the shoulder, and the surgery went well.” The operation was performed by Dr. Porcellini, Dr. Padolini, and Dr. Giorgini. Dr. Porcellini has operated on several MotoGP riders in recent years.
On the positive side for Viñales, the shoulder itself had fully healed. The procedure was solely about removing the screw and treating the resulting inflammation. He now has time to recover before the European opener in Jerez. In his absence, teammate Enea Bastianini provided relief for the team of investor Günther Steiner in Austin. Bastianini was retroactively awarded third place in the sprint and showed a strong battle against Marquez for fifth place on Sunday during a charge through the field.
2027 Rider Market: Bulega’s MotoGP Dream Fades
While the 2026 season is still young on track, the 2027 rider market is already taking shape. For Nicolò Bulega, who has dominated the Superbike World Championship with two triple wins at the first two race weekends, the hoped-for promotion to MotoGP is becoming increasingly unlikely.
What seemed like a natural next step just a few months ago — after the 26-year-old had served as Ducati’s new MotoGP test rider and substituted for the injured Marquez at the final two races of the previous season and the subsequent Valencia test — has become significantly more complicated due to recent developments on the transfer market.
Although there are no official confirmations yet, the Ducati lineups for the coming season appear to be largely settled. Pedro Acosta’s move to the factory team alongside Marquez is considered a done deal. At VR46, Fabio Di Giannantonio is expected to stay alongside newcomer Fermin Aldeguer, and at Gresini, the seat freed up by Acosta’s departure is likely to go to rookie Dani Holgado, who would be joined by Enea Bastianini should he return from KTM.
Unless unexpected developments occur — such as a possible move by Bastianini to the Trackhouse team or an offer from another manufacturer — Bulega is left with virtually no option for a MotoGP seat with Ducati. Instead, a future is emerging where Ducati prefers to keep the Superbike dominator in the production-based world championship while assigning him the parallel role of MotoGP test rider, similar to the model Michele Pirro has filled for years. Pirro turns 40 on July 5, making a gradual transition conceivable.
Starting in May, Bulega is also expected to get the opportunity to test the new 850cc Ducati that will be introduced to MotoGP in 2027 with Pirelli tires — tires the Superbike specialist knows inside out from his current racing environment. For Ducati, it might ultimately be more valuable to deploy Bulega in this dual role than to put him into the full MotoGP grid.
At the Aruba.it Racing Team, Bulega clearly feels at home, and the team is considered a second family for him. However, staying in the Superbike World Championship is unlikely to come cheap. Given his current dominance, Bulega would certainly expect a significant pay raise in any contract extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How many consecutive wins does Marco Bezzecchi have in the 2026 MotoGP season?
Marco Bezzecchi has won five consecutive MotoGP races after the Grand Prix in Austin, each as a lights-to-flag victory. He is the first rider since 1992 to lead five consecutive races from start to finish. He leads the championship with 81 points ahead of Jorge Martin with 77.
-
What is wrong with Marc Marquez’s shoulder and how serious is the injury?
Marquez is still suffering from the consequences of a right shoulder injury sustained at the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix through a collision with Bezzecchi. His former rival Andrea Dovizioso considers the situation much more serious than it seems and fears there may be no permanent solution for the limitation in his arm.
-
When is the next MotoGP race in 2026?
The next MotoGP race is the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez de la Frontera from April 24 to 26, 2026. Due to the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix to November, riders have a three-week break after the Austin weekend.
-
What was operated on Maverick Viñales’ shoulder?
Viñales had a roughly two-centimeter-long screw removed from his left shoulder at the clinic in Sassuolo. The screw had come loose and migrated to another position. The shoulder itself had fully healed, and only the screw removal and treatment of the resulting inflammation were necessary.
-
Will Nicolò Bulega join MotoGP in 2027?
A promotion is becoming increasingly unlikely. Although Bulega dominates the Superbike World Championship and serves as a Ducati test rider, the MotoGP seats at Ducati for 2027 already appear to be filled. Instead, a future in the Superbike World Championship with a parallel MotoGP test rider role following the model of Michele Pirro is emerging.
- MICHELIN 091745Michelin – Pilot Power 2ct Rear – 190/50 Zr17 Tl 73(w) Rear – Sommerreifen
