Marc Marquez’s first season with the factory Ducati team was a spectacular success, and there may be more to come from the combination.

The Spaniard romped to a seventh MotoGP title well in advance of the end of the campaign, facing little competition all year.

But it could be a very different story in 2026, and Ducati will face more competition from its rivals, who have made gains over the last 12 months.

It won’t faze Marquez too much, but he’ll need to watch out for the likes of Aprilia and KTM, particularly if they can make further progress over the winter.

Marquez has been urged to fear Pedro Acosta, now that the 21-year-old has found some real consistency, challenging for podiums at most events.

It could be a battle for the ages between those two, particularly if they both have the machinery to keep up with each other.

Luigi Dall’Igna says Marc Marquez’s determination reminds him of a MotoGP ‘rookie’

It’s still unknown whether the injuries that Marquez suffered in a shocking crash in Indonesia will have lasting effects on his abilities.

Fans still don’t know when he will return, either, given that the new season is still more than three months away.

But his determination is one thing that cannot be doubted. It was seen in 2020 when he refused to let a horrific Jerez crash be the end of him, and it’ll be the same this time.

It’s that same quality that Ducati boss Luigi Dall’Igna has praised him for, saying that it reminds him of a rookie in the championship.

“The spark in his eyes is the sign of an adventure which is human well before that of sport, lived with the humility of a rider who feels he has always something to learn,” he said in a LinkedIn post.

“The determined will of a rookie and the experience of a veteran: he is an example for everyone and an honour for the Factory Team to have him ‘on board’.”

Why Marc Marquez came to the defence of Marco Bezzecchi after Indonesia crash

It would have been easy for Marquez to let his fans attack Marco Bezzecchi, given that he was the one who caused his injury in Indonesia.

But, he insisted that it wasn’t intentional, and a mistake that anyone could have made. That’s why he cut his rival slack.

They never used to get on too well, but now there’s a strong mutual respect between the two. It’s seen when they fight on track, too.

Arguably, they’re the two favourites for the 2026 title currently. Aprilia will be hoping that they can have two riders in the battle next season, particularly with Jorge Martin getting stronger.

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