There is plenty of expectation surrounding Marquez ahead of the new season. However, he will have competition as he looks to win a fourth consecutive title.
One rival could be Francesco Bagnaia, who will be looking to get back into the title mix after a frustrating 2025 campaign.
The Italian was the world champion from 2021 to 2023, but he finished eighth in the standings last year after missing six races due to injury.
Maverick Viñales will also be hoping to challenge for the championship after finishing third in the standings last year, while Pedro Acosta will be aiming for another impressive season with KTM following his debut campaign in which he finished fourth overall.
Pedro Acosta picks out Marco Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia as title threats in 2026
While Marquez missed the end of the 2025 season, Aprilia started to gain ground with Marco Bezzecchi stepping up. The Italian ended the year with back-to-back wins, and he’s hoping to carry that form into the new campaign.
Massimo Rivola is backing Bezzecchi for a strong title challenge, and Pedro Acosta agrees. While he still sees Marquez as the main contender in 2026, he also highlighted the Aprilia rider, Alex Marquez, and Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia as serious threats.
Acosta told GPOne: “He’s the guy who should have the number one on the bike. After all, he overcame a difficult five-year period, got on a bike and immediately fought for the championship.
“So, even with his injury, he’ll be the man to beat. But I think we also have to take Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez and Pecco into account because I think they’re riders who will be fighting for the championship. It’s clear that Marc will still be the man everyone will be fighting against.”
Marc Marquez has a new opinion on Pedro Acosta’s 2026 title hopes
Acosta is also looking to move up the grid in 2026. The KTM rider showed real progress in the second half of 2025, picking up 12 podiums after the summer break and finishing fourth overall.
But that isn’t enough for the 21-year-old, who wants to start winning races. So far, KTM haven’t been able to give him what he needs to take that step, and there aren’t many signs of change heading into this year.
Marc Marquez has shifted his view on Acosta’s chances as well. He initially saw him as a title contender, but during Ducati’s launch for the new season, he left him out of the conversation.
Looking ahead to 2027, Acosta is expected to leave KTM, with reports suggesting a move to Ducati could be on the cards. If that happens, he might end up sharing a garage with Marquez next year.
- READ MORE: Valentino Rossi’s influence could boost Francesco Bagnaia’s chances of a Yamaha deal in 2027
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