Aprilia duo and imagine can nonetheless bounce again from early-season setbacks and contend for the 2026 MotoGP title.
Manufacturing unit Ducati rider Marquez has already slipped 71 factors behind championship chief Bezzecchi after the opening 5 rounds of the season. Whereas Aprilia’s near-perfect begin to the 12 months has handed an early benefit to Bezzecchi and Martin within the title struggle, Marquez has additionally struggled to match the tempo of VR46 rider inside Ducati’s camp.
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With 37 factors on provide at this weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, which Marquez will miss after present process a double surgical procedure final Sunday, the reigning champion may face a deficit of greater than a 100 factors even when he returns on the subsequent spherical in Italy on 31 Could.
Nonetheless, Bezzecchi feels it could be untimely to jot down off the seven-time world champion from the title struggle so early within the season. The Italian pointed to the latter’s unimaginable 2025 marketing campaign wherein he gained the championship with six rounds to spare, and ended the 12 months with a 78-point lead regardless of lacking the final 4 grands prix.
“I feel Marc final 12 months confirmed [what he can do],” mentioned Bezzecchi. “He gained the championship by greater than 100 factors. He gained the championship in Japan, so it was 5 races earlier than the tip.
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“So, personally, I by no means rule out Marc from the title. Now it is very early within the championship, so every little thing can occur.
“When Marc comes again, he can be tremendous hungry for successful, so for positive, he’ll struggle.”
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Workforce, Marc Marquez, Ducati Workforce
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Workforce, Marc Marquez, Ducati Workforce
Martin, who closed inside one level of Bezzecchi within the title standings following his victory within the French GP, cited Marquez’s earlier comeback from his career-threatening 2020 damage as proof of his skill.
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“If any person demonstrates that they will go from the bottom to the very best once more, it’s Marc,” mentioned Martin. “So we can’t low cost him. I hope he recovers quickly and he is again with us very quickly.”
Marquez had already deliberate additional surgical procedure on his proper shoulder after a screw that was fitted in 2019 grew to become bent and began touching a radial nerve, compromising his actions.
The fracture he sustained to his foot within the Le Mans dash crash in the end allowed him to convey ahead the deliberate shoulder operation, which had not beforehand been disclosed publicly.
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The Spaniard’s brother mentioned any talks concerning the championship are irrelevant when it’s unclear when the Ducati rider will have the ability to make a comeback.
Whereas Marc has already withdrawn from the Barcelona spherical, the timing of his return will solely rely upon his restoration from the shoulder operation.
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“To begin with, we have to see when he’ll come again,” mentioned the Gresini rider. “If he’ll miss one race, two, three or 4, I do not know. No one is aware of.
“So on that time, we can focus on if he’ll nonetheless have some choices or not. Proper now, it is too early.
“I feel he is not occupied with the championship. He’s pondering of recovering, and that is it.”
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