Marc Marquez Credits Ducati and Team as Key 2026 Title

Marc Marquez has pinpointed his Ducati motorcycle and his Gresini Racing team as his greatest assets in the 2026 MotoGP championship fight. The eight-time world champion currently sits 12 points behind series leader Jorge Martin of Aprilia with seven races remaining.

Marquez's declaration came when he was asked to name his key weapon for the title run-in. He gave a five-word answer: "My bike and my team." When questioned if he meant his own talent or experience, he reiterated, "No - my bike and my team." This follows a remarkable comeback in the standings, where he erased a 102-point deficit after May's Italian Grand Prix to briefly lead the championship after winning in San Marino.

Marquez's Injury and the Title Battle

The Spaniard's campaign is being fought while managing a significant right shoulder injury. His surgeon recently revealed that the arm is operating at only 50 percent of its maximum capacity. Despite this physical limitation, Marquez remains in the thick of a four-rider contest he believes is still wide open.

He explicitly named the top four in the standings as genuine title protagonists. This group includes himself, Martin, Enea Bastianini, and Pedro Acosta. He pointed to Acosta's recent form as evidence, noting the KTM rider's victory in Austria. Top four guys are ready to fight for the championship, Marquez stated. As we see with Pedro, for example, since Silverstone, KTM has opened the engines and has good power again.

Acosta Emerges as Motegi Favorite

Following the Austrian Grand Prix, Marquez identified Pedro Acosta as the favorite for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. He cited the KTM rider's strong historical performances at the circuit. I mean, in Motegi, after this GP, Pedro is again the favourite, Marquez said. Because every year he has been very, very fast there.

He recalled Acosta's pace in previous visits, including a crash while leading a sprint race and another while fighting for victory in a main event. Marquez expects his own Ducati to be strong at the Japanese track due to its stop-and-go layout and a return to Michelin's standard rear tyre specification.

A Tight Finish Predicted

The championship leaderboard shows a close battle at the top as the season enters its final phase. Marquez warned of a tight last seven races involving the four main contenders. With Acosta 72 points behind Martin in fourth, the points gap remains significant but not insurmountable in Marquez's view.

His focus remains squarely on the machinery and personnel around him as the decisive factor. The series now heads to Motegi, where Marquez anticipates another strong showing from his young rival Acosta.