Marquez vs. Aprilia: What Matters Before the Brno Weekend

• Marc Marquez trails championship leader Marco Bezzecchi by 72 points following his double victory at Balaton Park.
• KTM has lost the MotoGP top speed record to Aprilia: 368.6 km/h versus 366.1 km/h.
• On June 22, factory riders will test the 2027 prototypes with Pirelli tires for the first time after the Brno Grand Prix.

The 2026 MotoGP season has taken a turn that few at Ducati had anticipated at the start of the year. After a difficult start, the team has fought back, but Aprilia’s lead remains considerable. Ahead of the race weekend in the Czech Republic, several storylines converge: Marc Marquez’s chase, KTM’s technical search, the staffing question at LCR Honda, and a first major look at the motorcycle generation of 2027.

Why Does Davide Tardozzi Speak of a Nightmare Start?

Team manager Davide Tardozzi admits that the opening races were like a nightmare for Ducati, as Aprilia pulled away surprisingly fast and Marc Marquez was set back by health issues. After the winter test in Sepang, where five Desmosedicis finished among the top six, Tardozzi had expected a strong year.

Instead, Aprilia made a big step forward between Sepang and the final test in Buriram, in Tardozzi’s words. At the same time, the recovery of Marquez stalled – he had returned from shoulder injuries sustained the previous season but then struggled with a previously undetected pinched radial nerve in his right arm. Aprilia won the first three Grands Prix with Marco Bezzecchi and added a sprint victory through Jorge Martin, while Ducati reached the European rounds with just one sprint win. The turnaround came with Alex Marquez’s first Grand Prix victory in Jerez, Fabio di Giannantonio’s second win of the season in Barcelona, and the factory team’s first Sunday podium through Francesco Bagnaia, also in Barcelona. Tardozzi says they have clawed back some of the deficit but, in his view, not yet enough.

How Close Is Marc Marquez to His Best Form Again?

Marc Marquez says he is not yet at one hundred percent, and Tardozzi expects another one to two months until full recovery. The reigning world champion returned cautiously with seventh place at Mugello before winning both races from pole position at Balaton Park.

Tardozzi emphasizes that pole and victories do not mean Marquez is fully fit again. At Balaton Park, the misfortune of his rivals also played a role: Martin caused a first-corner crash that took out both his teammate Bezzecchi and championship leader di Giannantonio from Ducati. Marquez gained 30 points as a result but still trails Bezzecchi by 72 points. In the Barcelona paddock, where he stopped by during the race break, Marquez described himself as on the mend and announced plans to take another step after the upcoming races and the German Grand Prix before the summer break. Regarding the young riders, he said that as an athlete you must accept the rise of talents like Pedro Acosta and Fermin Aldeguer and work harder yourself to remain tough to beat.

Why Has KTM Lost the MotoGP Top Speed Record?

KTM long held the premier class top speed record at 366.1 km/h, but Aprilia surpassed that mark twice at the Italian Grand Prix with 368.6 km/h. Martin first set the new benchmark in the second free practice session, and Bezzecchi matched it exactly in the sprint a few hours later.

The KTM RC16 still appears twice in the top five of the record list but is no longer at the top. Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini explains that the RC16’s strong top speed has been retained, but compromises had to be made during development. On some tracks they were extremely fast on the straights, on others not, which also depends on the grip level of each circuit. In low-grip conditions like Barcelona, this played into the RC16’s hands because acceleration was comparable to the competition. In higher-grip conditions like Mugello, however, acceleration is lacking despite plenty of power available from fourth through sixth gear. Bastianini sees the greatest need for improvement at corner exit.

Help came from an aerodynamic update at the Monday test in Barcelona. According to Acosta, some of the small winglets near the fork were removed because on fast tracks top speed is sometimes more important than cornering behavior. Maverick Vinales reported finding three to four km/h through the reduced drag. Vinales himself remains hampered by a shoulder injury sustained at the Sachsenring in 2025 and has had to miss several races this season as well. Bastianini, who rode for the Ducati factory team in 2023 and 2024, finds it difficult to compare the two manufacturers directly but names braking in a straight line as his bike’s current greatest strength.

What Is the Future for Johann Zarco and Cal Crutchlow at LCR Honda?

Johann Zarco is not race-ready for the time being, which is why former MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow is stepping in for LCR Honda. Team principal Lucio Cecchinello explains that the ligament surgery planned for Zarco’s knee cannot take place until a deep burn on his leg has healed, as there would otherwise be a risk of infection.

A fixed date for the procedure has therefore not yet been set. Crutchlow, who ended his full-time career in 2020, took on the role at Cecchinello’s request and is contesting at least the upcoming races in Brno and Assen. He rules out a permanent comeback but keeps open a future role as a test rider. He points out that after his retirement he worked intensively with Yamaha on the M1 and contested individual races as a wildcard or replacement rider. Despite the physical demands, he still considers himself capable of delivering precise technical feedback and building on his strong relationship with Honda.

MotoGP Brno 2026: The Secret Test for the Future

On June 22, the Monday after the Brno Grand Prix, the first major test for the 2027 MotoGP generation takes place – largely behind closed doors. This is not an official test but a tire test for the 2027 season, in which the premier class switches from Michelin to Pirelli tires.

Manufacturers are expected to field their 2027 prototypes with factory riders for the first time at this event. Details about the level of secrecy remain under wraps, with restricted media access and no official lap times being possible scenarios. According to media reports, the test is limited to a maximum of two riders per manufacturer, with at least one being a factory rider. Only riders with a valid contract for 2027 or those who have renewed with their current manufacturer are eligible. Confirmed to stay with their current manufacturer so far are Bezzecchi at Aprilia, Toprak Razgatlioglu at Pramac Yamaha, and Diogo Moreira at LCR Honda, plus Marquez and Aldeguer at Ducati. Zarco’s injury-related absence illustrates how tight the selection is – he holds a contract but cannot ride.

The situation at KTM is more complicated: Acosta is reportedly set to move to Ducati, Bastianini is linked with Trackhouse Aprilia, and the futures of Brad Binder and Vinales remain open. The choice for the Brno test could therefore hint at who is still in contention for 2027. Experienced test riders such as Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa are available as alternatives. In development, KTM has already had their 850cc prototype running since December 2025, followed by Honda and now Ducati as well – most recently, test team chief Michele Pirro completed laps at Misano on the 850cc Desmosedici GP27 fitted with Pirelli tires. The 2027 technical regulations include not only the smaller displacement but also a ban on so-called ride-height devices – systems that lower the motorcycle for better acceleration. A second test day of this kind is scheduled for September 21, after the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg.

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➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.