Michele Pirro says Ducati are having a hard time keeping up with Aprilia in the 2026 MotoGP season, and Marc Marquez’s shoulder issue is just one of the challenges they’re facing.
It’s a different situation than Ducati has been used to in recent years. They haven’t reached a Grand Prix podium in the first three rounds, something that hasn’t happened since 2022 – though that year, they still managed to win every title.
Fabio Di Giannantonio has been the only Ducati rider to make it onto the podium this season. He finished third at the Brazilian Grand Prix, just ahead of Marquez. But for factory Ducati, Marquez’s fourth-place finish in Goiania remains their best result so far.
Di Giannantonio leads all Ducati riders in the standings with 45 points, while Marquez has 40. At the top, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin hold first and second with 81 and 77 points respectively. KTM’s Pedro Acosta is third on 60 points.
Pirro admits Ducati can’t repeat Sprint results in full Grands Prix so far in 2026
Pirro feels that Marquez’s ongoing recovery from his shoulder surgery last October has played a part in Ducati’s slow start to the season, but he also recognises the issues they’re having with the GP26.
According to Pirro, Ducati are finding it difficult to match their Sprint Race performances when it comes to full Grand Prix conditions. Marquez did win the Sprint in Brazil and took second place in Buriram after a penalty denied him the win.
“Now is the moment [that] Aprilia are in top form,” Pirro told Corriere Romagna. “It was something that was bound to happen sooner or later. You hope it happens later and later, but they’ve done well. We’ve had a lot of limitations, and we’re defending ourselves.
“Marc is not at his best, but we’ve seen that Aprilia have made a big step forward since the latter part of last season, and they’ve started off very strong this year.
“The championship is still long, and I’m confident [that] we’ll get something out of it. This month’s break was also necessary for Marc to recover.”
Pirro continued: “Aprilia will definitely be in good form at Jerez. Bezzecchi has always been very strong, but I think we can still hold our own and be in the game because there are some aspects we can manage.
“We might be more competitive on Saturdays, a little less so on Sundays. It’s part of the sport. We’re playing catch-up now.
Ducati are leaning heavily on Marquez despite him not being fully fit yet. Meanwhile, Bagnaia continues to struggle without clear reasons for his lack of pace. The two-time champion often cites tyre wear issues and a lack of confidence in the front-end feel of the GP26 as key factors holding him back.
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