{"id":1901986,"date":"2026-04-24T16:35:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:35:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1901986"},"modified":"2026-04-24T16:35:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:35:05","slug":"why-one-ducati-stars-unrealistic-jerez-motogp-dream-looks-anything-but","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1901986","title":{"rendered":"Why one Ducati star\u2019s \u2018unrealistic\u2019 Jerez MotoGP dream looks anything but"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Why one Ducati star\u2019s \u2018unrealistic\u2019 Jerez MotoGP dream looks anything but<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Aprilia looks to be facing its first real test of a 2026 MotoGP campaign it has so far dominated, as Ducati led the way on Friday at the Spanish Grand Prix. Alex Marquez believed a repeat of his 2025 Jerez heroics was unlikely coming into the round. But practice pace suggests he may need to revise this outlook\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Lewis Duncan <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-24T17:35:05+01:00\">24 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 2026 Spanish MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Friday at the 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix resembled a familiar scene from last year, as Ducati topped both practice sessions and emerged as the strongest on long run pace. This step forward from Ducati was anticipated by most, not least current championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, with Jerez representing a more \u2018normal\u2019 set of conditions than those experienced in the first three races.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Ducati\u2019s hopes of ending a victory drought that now spans five grands prix appear to rest on the shoulders of its satellite riders, rather than its factory team duo, who are now in the midst of the works squad\u2019s longest podium dearth in over a decade.<\/p>\n<p>Fabio Di Giannantonio, Ducati\u2019s leading rider in the standings and its only Sunday podium finisher so far in 2026, got the ball rolling in FP1. But his session-topping time was set on fresh rubber. The standout Ducati performer in the morning was Alex Marquez, who was third overall and the leading rider on used rubber.<\/p>\n<p>In the hour-long Practice, the 30-year-old blitzed the field over a single lap, leading the way with a 1m35.704s to streak 0.333s clear of Di Giannantonio and 0.506s ahead of Aprilia\u2019s Bezzecchi.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-overflow\">\n<table dir=\"ltr\" class=\"crash-report\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"5\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Fastest lap per brand<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Bike<\/td>\n<td>Rider<\/td>\n<td>Time<\/td>\n<td>Position<\/td>\n<td>Gap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>Alex Marquez<\/td>\n<td>1m35.704s<\/td>\n<td>1st<\/td>\n<td>&#8211;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>Marco Bezzecchi<\/td>\n<td>1m36.210s<\/td>\n<td>3rd<\/td>\n<td>0.506s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>KTM<\/td>\n<td>Enea Bastianini<\/td>\n<td>1m36.359s<\/td>\n<td>10th<\/td>\n<td>0.655s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Honda<\/td>\n<td>Joan Mir<\/td>\n<td>1m36.386s<\/td>\n<td>11th<\/td>\n<td>0.682s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yamaha<\/td>\n<td>Fabio Quartararo<\/td>\n<td>11m36.752s<\/td>\n<td>17th<\/td>\n<td>1.048s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Ducati does have new parts to try at Jerez, but most of them are being tucked away until Monday\u2019s post-race test. However, Davide Tardozzi confirmed on Friday that Ducati has brought an electronics update, which looks to be aimed to improving the GP26 in \u201cthe last part of braking and entry of the corner\u201d, which is an area the Aprilia has excelled.<\/p>\n<p>However, he told <em>Sky Italy<\/em> after Friday\u2019s track action that the GP26\u2019s braking issues persist: \u201cThe set-up is the same as last year, and the braking difficulties are still there. But the step forward was primarily mental: not dwelling on the problems and focusing on the positives, of which there are many.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-7331ac97a4d005367c23572b04dc70980f5f9050a09c966ec8d4b35e8c969ae2\">  Alex Marquez back on top at Jerez: \u201cI won\u2019t lie, we needed it\u201d   Jorge Martin hit with penalty after Jerez MotoGP practice incident <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jerez is a circuit that has generally suited Ducati in recent years, too, with the brand unbeaten at the Spanish venue for the last five seasons. Alex Marquez scored the most recent of those, celebrating a maiden victory in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>He played down the idea of repeating this, noting on Thursday: \u201c[Jerez] is the best circuit or the best moment of the season to come back and to have again a good performance, so we will try again to give our best.\u00a0To repeat the things like last year would be amazing, but it\u2019s a little bit not realistic in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet the Gresini rider looked comfortable on his GP26 across Friday\u2019s running at Jerez. A glance at the split times shows Alex Marquez topping sectors one, three and four. Intriguingly, Bezzecchi and Aprilia is fastest in sector two, which comprises the long right at Turn 5 onto the back straight down to the braking zone for the Turn 6 hairpin.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-3162745544719d95886abda1ab4548d9ccadf033c9593ed42f772ad402377089\">  2026 Jerez MotoGP: Which riders are in Q2 for Spanish Grand Prix qualifying?   Spanish MotoGP, Jerez &#8211; Friday Practice Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>On a track that has good grip, the RS-GP certainly looks like it is still arcing through long, fast corners well and getting the bike stood up quickly. Tyre preservation has been a strength of the RS-GP over the GP26. But more importantly has been the GP26\u2019s struggles to switch on its tyres in the early phases of races compared to the Aprilia.<\/p>\n<p>At the US Grand Prix, Bezzecchi was already 1.7s clear of the leading Ducati by the end of lap two. In Brazil, he was 1.2s clear after four laps, while in Thailand, he was 1.3s up the road after a single tour.<\/p>\n<p>Jerez is not an easy track to overtake on with the modern generation of bikes. Honda\u2019s Luca Marini reckons \u201c80%\u201d of the race is decided in qualifying. On the one hand, then, Ducati\u2019s rapid one-lap pace (not that Aprilia has lacked in this respect so far) will be a major asset. On the other, though, a strong qualifying for Bezzecchi puts him in a position to use the Aprilia\u2019s strong early-race pace to effectively block off any Ducati assault.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Aprilia has shown it can turn things around, but Alex Marquez pace will worry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For all of its domination on Sundays so far in 2026, Aprilia hasn\u2019t had the cleanest of runs on Saturdays yet. Jorge Martin, who now faces a three-place grid penalty at Jerez for riding slowly on the racing line in Practice, has its only Saturday win of the campaign. Ducati has the the other two.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Bezzecchi\u2019s Saturdays have been especially weak. He crashed while leading in the Buriram sprint, was fourth in Brazil having struggled for pace on Friday and into Saturday. And crashed again at COTA while running in a podium place in the sprint.<\/p>\n<p>As such, his four-point championship lead over team-mate Martin is a skewed picture of what his pace should have delivered him at this early stage. Circling back to that Brazil weekend, that was a good demonstration of the RS-GP\u2019s quite friendly nature, as Aprilia was able to get the bike to where it needed to be for Bezzecchi to dominate on Sunday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-overflow\">\n<table dir=\"ltr\" class=\"crash-report\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"6\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Practice pace analysis<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rider<\/td>\n<td>Bike<\/td>\n<td>Average pace<\/td>\n<td>Tyre<\/td>\n<td>Stint<\/td>\n<td>Laps on tyre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fabio Di Giannantonio<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.011s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>4 laps<\/td>\n<td>8 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Alex Marquez<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.154s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>9 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pecco Bagnaia<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.270s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>4 laps<\/td>\n<td>11 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fermin Aldeguer<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP25<\/td>\n<td>1m37.371s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>3 laps<\/td>\n<td>8 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marco Bezzecchi<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.416s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>12 laps<\/td>\n<td>17 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marc Marquez<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.429s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>6 laps<\/td>\n<td>15 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Enea Bastianini<\/td>\n<td>KTM<\/td>\n<td>1m37.476s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>5 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Raul Fernandez<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.480s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>10 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jorge Martin<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.482s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>6 laps<\/td>\n<td>11 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ai Ogura<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.656s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>7 laps<\/td>\n<td>13 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Looking at the average pace from Friday\u2019s long runs at Jerez, Ducati looks good. Alex Marquez&#8217;s, in particular, is noteworthy. Across a nine-lap representative run, he averaged 1m37.154s, while a 16th tour on the medium rear tyre he was using produced a 1m37.412s. That\u2019s an encouraging sign of the GP26\u2019s electronic updates potentially improving tyre life, if the bike is stopping better and no longer requiring the rider to turn with the rear so much.<\/p>\n<p>Last year\u2019s race option was the medium rear. Bezzecchi did his work on Friday afternoon on the soft rear and believes it can work as a race option, as grip levels mean tyre wear isn\u2019t excessive. Across 12 laps, he averaged 1m37.416s, while managing a 1m37.670s on a 17-lap-old soft rear. That\u2019s impressive and suggests, despite the pace differential, the gap between Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez is not too big.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Di Giannantonio\u2019s pace is nothing to ignore, not least given his form so far this season, but a four-lap representative stint leaves a question mark hanging over the consistency of that pace. He also only put eight laps on a medium rear, compared to 16 for Alex Marquez.<\/p>\n<p>Bezzecchi has branded Alex Marquez \u201cthe favourite\u201d because \u201che\u2019s put half a second on me\u201d, and believes the Gresini rider and Di Giannantonio are a step ahead of the rest despite making \u201ca better start than we expected\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt went pretty well. It was tough because, especially with the soft tyre, this is a track that already has good grip, so some of the problems we had in the past resurfaced, and it wasn&#8217;t easy. But it definitely went a little better than expected, so come on, I&#8217;m pretty happy. Now we have to keep working hard to try and improve further.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pecco Bagnaia\u2019s pace was also solid, but the same question marks persist. The Italian offered a concerning viewpoint on Thursday that the DNA of the GP25 &#8211; which he hated &#8211; and the GP26 are not that much different.<\/p>\n<p>That was very visible on Friday. On several occasions, Bagnaia couldn\u2019t get his bike to stop in the hard braking zones. At the start of Practice, he wrote off one of his bikes with a crash at Turn 1. He rallied to bag a place in Q2 in sixth overall, and got some useful long run data onto Ducati\u2019s hard drives. If Alex Marquez\u2019s braking improvements have come from a mental shift, it\u2019s easy to understand why Bagnaia is still battling troubles that have plagued him well over a year.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>However, he did note that the GP26 is \u201chonest\u201d on the front-end, so he can at least understand what set-up directions might work. He said he headed out in PR with something Alex Marquez was using, but got no information on it due to his crash.<\/p>\n<p>All four Aprilias worked with the soft rear in PR, with Raul Fernandez and Martin on par with Bezzecchi\u2019s pace. But right now, Alex Marquez and Ducati &#8211; for the first time in a season he is 42 points worse off than at the same stage last year &#8211; are the ones with the target on their back heading into the rest of the Spanish Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 Spanish MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>What\u2019s going on with Marc Marquez?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The extended break between the US and Spanish races due to the war in Iran offered reigning world champion Marc Marquez crucial recovery time. The right shoulder he injured last October continued to be a problem across the opening three rounds.<\/p>\n<p>Coming into the weekend, he said he was back to a physical level good enough to push on. But he still looks out of sorts as the Spanish Grand Prix begins.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>His one-lap speed is fine. He was fourth overall, but over half a second adrift of the leading GP26 of Alex Marquez. His long run pace was also ok. Across a six-lap run, he averaged 1m37.429s, with a 1m37.414s coming on the 15th lap of his medium rear tyre. That\u2019s encouraging and looks like it could potentially get him into the podium picture.<\/p>\n<p>But he needs to make another step to cement that, with the reigning champion noting that his younger brother \u201chas a better chance of winning than I do of finishing on the podium\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Physically, Marc Marquez says he is fine, but he concedes that the fast right-handers at the end of the lap are still giving him trouble. As for the pace of Alex Marquez and Di Giannantonio on the same GP26, he simply concedes, \u201cthey\u2019re faster\u201d.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Alex Marquez<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Gresini Racing MotoGP<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Marco Bezzecchi encountered \u201cproblems that we had in the past\u201d at Spanish MotoGP<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Alex Marquez back on top at Jerez: \u201cI won\u2019t lie, we needed it\u201d<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306324_hires_1600x900.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-64e3821f3aae7e3d3e3280de2487573ff8a650156ee502f9d87502a3d11cfcd5\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/unnamed%20%2826%29.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/unnamed%20%2826%29.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/unnamed%20%2826%29.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Lewis Duncan<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">Head of Editorial<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<div>Lewis joined the Crash.net team in August of 2024 having been a journalist for five years covering MotoGP for the Motorsport Network. In February of 2026, he became Head of Editorial.\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-64c66b7e02c422d4649d46ad1c87b340e80ff3d662aad78416f12c54c678b3fb\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Alex Marquez brands repeat Jerez MotoGP win \u201cnot realistic\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1776955527\"> 23\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305973_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Alex Marquez, 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix, pre-event press conference. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Alex Marquez has \u201cbetter options\u201d to improve with 2026 Ducati MotoGP bike<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1776424773\"> 17\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303083_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 2026 US MotoGP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The biggest winners and losers from MotoGP 2026&#8217;s first three rounds<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775289600\"> 04\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303921_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Marco Bezzecchi leads, 2026 US MotoGP.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>What a difference a year makes for MotoGP 2025\u2019s biggest surprise<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774970534\"> 31\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1304267_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 2026 US MotoGP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Huge reports claim Honda and Ducati have got their next superstar rookies<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774948154\"> 31\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1298683_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"David Alonso, Aspar, 2026 Brazil MotoGP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> MotoGP  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Brazilian MotoGP track needs &#8216;full resurfacing&#8217; after &#8216;unacceptable conditions&#8217;<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774440011\"> 25\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1299912_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Alex Marquez, Ai Ogura, 2026 Brazilian MotoGP.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Aprilia looks to be facing its first real test of a 2026 MotoGP campaign it has so far dominated, as Ducati led the way on Friday at the Spanish Grand Prix. Alex Marquez believed a repeat of his 2025 Jerez heroics was unlikely coming into the round. But practice pace suggests he may need to revise this outlook\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Friday at the 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix resembled a familiar scene from last year, as Ducati topped both practice sessions and emerged as the strongest on long run pace. This step forward from Ducati was anticipated by most, not least current championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, with Jerez representing a more \u2018normal\u2019 set of conditions than those experienced in the first three races.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Ducati\u2019s hopes of ending a victory drought that now spans five grands prix appear to rest on the shoulders of its satellite riders, rather than its factory team duo, who are now in the midst of the works squad\u2019s longest podium dearth in over a decade.<\/p>\n<p>Fabio Di Giannantonio, Ducati\u2019s leading rider in the standings and its only Sunday podium finisher so far in 2026, got the ball rolling in FP1. But his session-topping time was set on fresh rubber. The standout Ducati performer in the morning was Alex Marquez, who was third overall and the leading rider on used rubber.<\/p>\n<p>In the hour-long Practice, the 30-year-old blitzed the field over a single lap, leading the way with a 1m35.704s to streak 0.333s clear of Di Giannantonio and 0.506s ahead of Aprilia\u2019s Bezzecchi.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-overflow\">\n<table dir=\"ltr\" class=\"crash-report\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"5\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Fastest lap per brand<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Bike<\/td>\n<td>Rider<\/td>\n<td>Time<\/td>\n<td>Position<\/td>\n<td>Gap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>Alex Marquez<\/td>\n<td>1m35.704s<\/td>\n<td>1st<\/td>\n<td>&#8211;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>Marco Bezzecchi<\/td>\n<td>1m36.210s<\/td>\n<td>3rd<\/td>\n<td>0.506s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>KTM<\/td>\n<td>Enea Bastianini<\/td>\n<td>1m36.359s<\/td>\n<td>10th<\/td>\n<td>0.655s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Honda<\/td>\n<td>Joan Mir<\/td>\n<td>1m36.386s<\/td>\n<td>11th<\/td>\n<td>0.682s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yamaha<\/td>\n<td>Fabio Quartararo<\/td>\n<td>11m36.752s<\/td>\n<td>17th<\/td>\n<td>1.048s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Ducati does have new parts to try at Jerez, but most of them are being tucked away until Monday\u2019s post-race test. However, Davide Tardozzi confirmed on Friday that Ducati has brought an electronics update, which looks to be aimed to improving the GP26 in \u201cthe last part of braking and entry of the corner\u201d, which is an area the Aprilia has excelled.<\/p>\n<p>However, he told <em>Sky Italy<\/em> after Friday\u2019s track action that the GP26\u2019s braking issues persist: \u201cThe set-up is the same as last year, and the braking difficulties are still there. But the step forward was primarily mental: not dwelling on the problems and focusing on the positives, of which there are many.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-7331ac97a4d005367c23572b04dc70980f5f9050a09c966ec8d4b35e8c969ae2\">  Alex Marquez back on top at Jerez: \u201cI won\u2019t lie, we needed it\u201d   Jorge Martin hit with penalty after Jerez MotoGP practice incident <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jerez is a circuit that has generally suited Ducati in recent years, too, with the brand unbeaten at the Spanish venue for the last five seasons. Alex Marquez scored the most recent of those, celebrating a maiden victory in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>He played down the idea of repeating this, noting on Thursday: \u201c[Jerez] is the best circuit or the best moment of the season to come back and to have again a good performance, so we will try again to give our best.\u00a0To repeat the things like last year would be amazing, but it\u2019s a little bit not realistic in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet the Gresini rider looked comfortable on his GP26 across Friday\u2019s running at Jerez. A glance at the split times shows Alex Marquez topping sectors one, three and four. Intriguingly, Bezzecchi and Aprilia is fastest in sector two, which comprises the long right at Turn 5 onto the back straight down to the braking zone for the Turn 6 hairpin.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-3162745544719d95886abda1ab4548d9ccadf033c9593ed42f772ad402377089\">  2026 Jerez MotoGP: Which riders are in Q2 for Spanish Grand Prix qualifying?   Spanish MotoGP, Jerez &#8211; Friday Practice Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>On a track that has good grip, the RS-GP certainly looks like it is still arcing through long, fast corners well and getting the bike stood up quickly. Tyre preservation has been a strength of the RS-GP over the GP26. But more importantly has been the GP26\u2019s struggles to switch on its tyres in the early phases of races compared to the Aprilia.<\/p>\n<p>At the US Grand Prix, Bezzecchi was already 1.7s clear of the leading Ducati by the end of lap two. In Brazil, he was 1.2s clear after four laps, while in Thailand, he was 1.3s up the road after a single tour.<\/p>\n<p>Jerez is not an easy track to overtake on with the modern generation of bikes. Honda\u2019s Luca Marini reckons \u201c80%\u201d of the race is decided in qualifying. On the one hand, then, Ducati\u2019s rapid one-lap pace (not that Aprilia has lacked in this respect so far) will be a major asset. On the other, though, a strong qualifying for Bezzecchi puts him in a position to use the Aprilia\u2019s strong early-race pace to effectively block off any Ducati assault.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Aprilia has shown it can turn things around, but Alex Marquez pace will worry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For all of its domination on Sundays so far in 2026, Aprilia hasn\u2019t had the cleanest of runs on Saturdays yet. Jorge Martin, who now faces a three-place grid penalty at Jerez for riding slowly on the racing line in Practice, has its only Saturday win of the campaign. Ducati has the the other two.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Bezzecchi\u2019s Saturdays have been especially weak. He crashed while leading in the Buriram sprint, was fourth in Brazil having struggled for pace on Friday and into Saturday. And crashed again at COTA while running in a podium place in the sprint.<\/p>\n<p>As such, his four-point championship lead over team-mate Martin is a skewed picture of what his pace should have delivered him at this early stage. Circling back to that Brazil weekend, that was a good demonstration of the RS-GP\u2019s quite friendly nature, as Aprilia was able to get the bike to where it needed to be for Bezzecchi to dominate on Sunday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-overflow\">\n<table dir=\"ltr\" class=\"crash-report\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"6\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Practice pace analysis<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rider<\/td>\n<td>Bike<\/td>\n<td>Average pace<\/td>\n<td>Tyre<\/td>\n<td>Stint<\/td>\n<td>Laps on tyre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fabio Di Giannantonio<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.011s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>4 laps<\/td>\n<td>8 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Alex Marquez<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.154s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>9 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pecco Bagnaia<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.270s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>4 laps<\/td>\n<td>11 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fermin Aldeguer<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP25<\/td>\n<td>1m37.371s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>3 laps<\/td>\n<td>8 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marco Bezzecchi<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.416s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>12 laps<\/td>\n<td>17 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marc Marquez<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.429s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>6 laps<\/td>\n<td>15 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Enea Bastianini<\/td>\n<td>KTM<\/td>\n<td>1m37.476s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>5 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Raul Fernandez<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.480s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>10 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jorge Martin<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.482s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>6 laps<\/td>\n<td>11 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ai Ogura<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.656s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>7 laps<\/td>\n<td>13 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Looking at the average pace from Friday\u2019s long runs at Jerez, Ducati looks good. Alex Marquez&#8217;s, in particular, is noteworthy. Across a nine-lap representative run, he averaged 1m37.154s, while a 16th tour on the medium rear tyre he was using produced a 1m37.412s. That\u2019s an encouraging sign of the GP26\u2019s electronic updates potentially improving tyre life, if the bike is stopping better and no longer requiring the rider to turn with the rear so much.<\/p>\n<p>Last year\u2019s race option was the medium rear. Bezzecchi did his work on Friday afternoon on the soft rear and believes it can work as a race option, as grip levels mean tyre wear isn\u2019t excessive. Across 12 laps, he averaged 1m37.416s, while managing a 1m37.670s on a 17-lap-old soft rear. That\u2019s impressive and suggests, despite the pace differential, the gap between Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez is not too big.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Di Giannantonio\u2019s pace is nothing to ignore, not least given his form so far this season, but a four-lap representative stint leaves a question mark hanging over the consistency of that pace. He also only put eight laps on a medium rear, compared to 16 for Alex Marquez.<\/p>\n<p>Bezzecchi has branded Alex Marquez \u201cthe favourite\u201d because \u201che\u2019s put half a second on me\u201d, and believes the Gresini rider and Di Giannantonio are a step ahead of the rest despite making \u201ca better start than we expected\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt went pretty well. It was tough because, especially with the soft tyre, this is a track that already has good grip, so some of the problems we had in the past resurfaced, and it wasn&#8217;t easy. But it definitely went a little better than expected, so come on, I&#8217;m pretty happy. Now we have to keep working hard to try and improve further.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pecco Bagnaia\u2019s pace was also solid, but the same question marks persist. The Italian offered a concerning viewpoint on Thursday that the DNA of the GP25 &#8211; which he hated &#8211; and the GP26 are not that much different.<\/p>\n<p>That was very visible on Friday. On several occasions, Bagnaia couldn\u2019t get his bike to stop in the hard braking zones. At the start of Practice, he wrote off one of his bikes with a crash at Turn 1. He rallied to bag a place in Q2 in sixth overall, and got some useful long run data onto Ducati\u2019s hard drives. If Alex Marquez\u2019s braking improvements have come from a mental shift, it\u2019s easy to understand why Bagnaia is still battling troubles that have plagued him well over a year.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>However, he did note that the GP26 is \u201chonest\u201d on the front-end, so he can at least understand what set-up directions might work. He said he headed out in PR with something Alex Marquez was using, but got no information on it due to his crash.<\/p>\n<p>All four Aprilias worked with the soft rear in PR, with Raul Fernandez and Martin on par with Bezzecchi\u2019s pace. But right now, Alex Marquez and Ducati &#8211; for the first time in a season he is 42 points worse off than at the same stage last year &#8211; are the ones with the target on their back heading into the rest of the Spanish Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 Spanish MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>What\u2019s going on with Marc Marquez?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The extended break between the US and Spanish races due to the war in Iran offered reigning world champion Marc Marquez crucial recovery time. The right shoulder he injured last October continued to be a problem across the opening three rounds.<\/p>\n<p>Coming into the weekend, he said he was back to a physical level good enough to push on. But he still looks out of sorts as the Spanish Grand Prix begins.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>His one-lap speed is fine. He was fourth overall, but over half a second adrift of the leading GP26 of Alex Marquez. His long run pace was also ok. Across a six-lap run, he averaged 1m37.429s, with a 1m37.414s coming on the 15th lap of his medium rear tyre. That\u2019s encouraging and looks like it could potentially get him into the podium picture.<\/p>\n<p>But he needs to make another step to cement that, with the reigning champion noting that his younger brother \u201chas a better chance of winning than I do of finishing on the podium\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Physically, Marc Marquez says he is fine, but he concedes that the fast right-handers at the end of the lap are still giving him trouble. As for the pace of Alex Marquez and Di Giannantonio on the same GP26, he simply concedes, \u201cthey\u2019re faster\u201d.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Friday at the 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix resembled a familiar scene from last year, as Ducati topped both practice sessions and emerged as the strongest on long run pace. This step forward from Ducati was anticipated by most, not least current championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, with Jerez representing a more \u2018normal\u2019 set of conditions than those experienced in the first three races.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Ducati\u2019s hopes of ending a victory drought that now spans five grands prix appear to rest on the shoulders of its satellite riders, rather than its factory team duo, who are now in the midst of the works squad\u2019s longest podium dearth in over a decade.<\/p>\n<p>Fabio Di Giannantonio, Ducati\u2019s leading rider in the standings and its only Sunday podium finisher so far in 2026, got the ball rolling in FP1. But his session-topping time was set on fresh rubber. The standout Ducati performer in the morning was Alex Marquez, who was third overall and the leading rider on used rubber.<\/p>\n<p>In the hour-long Practice, the 30-year-old blitzed the field over a single lap, leading the way with a 1m35.704s to streak 0.333s clear of Di Giannantonio and 0.506s ahead of Aprilia\u2019s Bezzecchi.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-overflow\">\n<table dir=\"ltr\" class=\"crash-report\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"5\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Fastest lap per brand<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Bike<\/td>\n<td>Rider<\/td>\n<td>Time<\/td>\n<td>Position<\/td>\n<td>Gap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>Alex Marquez<\/td>\n<td>1m35.704s<\/td>\n<td>1st<\/td>\n<td>&#8211;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>Marco Bezzecchi<\/td>\n<td>1m36.210s<\/td>\n<td>3rd<\/td>\n<td>0.506s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>KTM<\/td>\n<td>Enea Bastianini<\/td>\n<td>1m36.359s<\/td>\n<td>10th<\/td>\n<td>0.655s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Honda<\/td>\n<td>Joan Mir<\/td>\n<td>1m36.386s<\/td>\n<td>11th<\/td>\n<td>0.682s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yamaha<\/td>\n<td>Fabio Quartararo<\/td>\n<td>11m36.752s<\/td>\n<td>17th<\/td>\n<td>1.048s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Ducati does have new parts to try at Jerez, but most of them are being tucked away until Monday\u2019s post-race test. However, Davide Tardozzi confirmed on Friday that Ducati has brought an electronics update, which looks to be aimed to improving the GP26 in \u201cthe last part of braking and entry of the corner\u201d, which is an area the Aprilia has excelled.<\/p>\n<p>However, he told <em>Sky Italy<\/em> after Friday\u2019s track action that the GP26\u2019s braking issues persist: \u201cThe set-up is the same as last year, and the braking difficulties are still there. But the step forward was primarily mental: not dwelling on the problems and focusing on the positives, of which there are many.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-7331ac97a4d005367c23572b04dc70980f5f9050a09c966ec8d4b35e8c969ae2\">  Alex Marquez back on top at Jerez: \u201cI won\u2019t lie, we needed it\u201d   Jorge Martin hit with penalty after Jerez MotoGP practice incident <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jerez is a circuit that has generally suited Ducati in recent years, too, with the brand unbeaten at the Spanish venue for the last five seasons. Alex Marquez scored the most recent of those, celebrating a maiden victory in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>He played down the idea of repeating this, noting on Thursday: \u201c[Jerez] is the best circuit or the best moment of the season to come back and to have again a good performance, so we will try again to give our best.\u00a0To repeat the things like last year would be amazing, but it\u2019s a little bit not realistic in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet the Gresini rider looked comfortable on his GP26 across Friday\u2019s running at Jerez. A glance at the split times shows Alex Marquez topping sectors one, three and four. Intriguingly, Bezzecchi and Aprilia is fastest in sector two, which comprises the long right at Turn 5 onto the back straight down to the braking zone for the Turn 6 hairpin.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-3162745544719d95886abda1ab4548d9ccadf033c9593ed42f772ad402377089\">  2026 Jerez MotoGP: Which riders are in Q2 for Spanish Grand Prix qualifying?   Spanish MotoGP, Jerez &#8211; Friday Practice Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>On a track that has good grip, the RS-GP certainly looks like it is still arcing through long, fast corners well and getting the bike stood up quickly. Tyre preservation has been a strength of the RS-GP over the GP26. But more importantly has been the GP26\u2019s struggles to switch on its tyres in the early phases of races compared to the Aprilia.<\/p>\n<p>At the US Grand Prix, Bezzecchi was already 1.7s clear of the leading Ducati by the end of lap two. In Brazil, he was 1.2s clear after four laps, while in Thailand, he was 1.3s up the road after a single tour.<\/p>\n<p>Jerez is not an easy track to overtake on with the modern generation of bikes. Honda\u2019s Luca Marini reckons \u201c80%\u201d of the race is decided in qualifying. On the one hand, then, Ducati\u2019s rapid one-lap pace (not that Aprilia has lacked in this respect so far) will be a major asset. On the other, though, a strong qualifying for Bezzecchi puts him in a position to use the Aprilia\u2019s strong early-race pace to effectively block off any Ducati assault.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306824_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Aprilia has shown it can turn things around, but Alex Marquez pace will worry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For all of its domination on Sundays so far in 2026, Aprilia hasn\u2019t had the cleanest of runs on Saturdays yet. Jorge Martin, who now faces a three-place grid penalty at Jerez for riding slowly on the racing line in Practice, has its only Saturday win of the campaign. Ducati has the the other two.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Bezzecchi\u2019s Saturdays have been especially weak. He crashed while leading in the Buriram sprint, was fourth in Brazil having struggled for pace on Friday and into Saturday. And crashed again at COTA while running in a podium place in the sprint.<\/p>\n<p>As such, his four-point championship lead over team-mate Martin is a skewed picture of what his pace should have delivered him at this early stage. Circling back to that Brazil weekend, that was a good demonstration of the RS-GP\u2019s quite friendly nature, as Aprilia was able to get the bike to where it needed to be for Bezzecchi to dominate on Sunday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-overflow\">\n<table dir=\"ltr\" class=\"crash-report\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"6\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Practice pace analysis<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rider<\/td>\n<td>Bike<\/td>\n<td>Average pace<\/td>\n<td>Tyre<\/td>\n<td>Stint<\/td>\n<td>Laps on tyre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fabio Di Giannantonio<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.011s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>4 laps<\/td>\n<td>8 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Alex Marquez<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.154s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>9 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pecco Bagnaia<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.270s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>4 laps<\/td>\n<td>11 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fermin Aldeguer<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP25<\/td>\n<td>1m37.371s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>3 laps<\/td>\n<td>8 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marco Bezzecchi<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.416s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>12 laps<\/td>\n<td>17 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marc Marquez<\/td>\n<td>Ducati GP26<\/td>\n<td>1m37.429s<\/td>\n<td>Medium<\/td>\n<td>6 laps<\/td>\n<td>15 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Enea Bastianini<\/td>\n<td>KTM<\/td>\n<td>1m37.476s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>5 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Raul Fernandez<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.480s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>10 laps<\/td>\n<td>16 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jorge Martin<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.482s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>6 laps<\/td>\n<td>11 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ai Ogura<\/td>\n<td>Aprilia<\/td>\n<td>1m37.656s<\/td>\n<td>Soft<\/td>\n<td>7 laps<\/td>\n<td>13 laps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Looking at the average pace from Friday\u2019s long runs at Jerez, Ducati looks good. Alex Marquez&#8217;s, in particular, is noteworthy. Across a nine-lap representative run, he averaged 1m37.154s, while a 16th tour on the medium rear tyre he was using produced a 1m37.412s. That\u2019s an encouraging sign of the GP26\u2019s electronic updates potentially improving tyre life, if the bike is stopping better and no longer requiring the rider to turn with the rear so much.<\/p>\n<p>Last year\u2019s race option was the medium rear. Bezzecchi did his work on Friday afternoon on the soft rear and believes it can work as a race option, as grip levels mean tyre wear isn\u2019t excessive. Across 12 laps, he averaged 1m37.416s, while managing a 1m37.670s on a 17-lap-old soft rear. That\u2019s impressive and suggests, despite the pace differential, the gap between Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez is not too big.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Di Giannantonio\u2019s pace is nothing to ignore, not least given his form so far this season, but a four-lap representative stint leaves a question mark hanging over the consistency of that pace. He also only put eight laps on a medium rear, compared to 16 for Alex Marquez.<\/p>\n<p>Bezzecchi has branded Alex Marquez \u201cthe favourite\u201d because \u201che\u2019s put half a second on me\u201d, and believes the Gresini rider and Di Giannantonio are a step ahead of the rest despite making \u201ca better start than we expected\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt went pretty well. It was tough because, especially with the soft tyre, this is a track that already has good grip, so some of the problems we had in the past resurfaced, and it wasn&#8217;t easy. But it definitely went a little better than expected, so come on, I&#8217;m pretty happy. Now we have to keep working hard to try and improve further.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pecco Bagnaia\u2019s pace was also solid, but the same question marks persist. The Italian offered a concerning viewpoint on Thursday that the DNA of the GP25 &#8211; which he hated &#8211; and the GP26 are not that much different.<\/p>\n<p>That was very visible on Friday. On several occasions, Bagnaia couldn\u2019t get his bike to stop in the hard braking zones. At the start of Practice, he wrote off one of his bikes with a crash at Turn 1. He rallied to bag a place in Q2 in sixth overall, and got some useful long run data onto Ducati\u2019s hard drives. If Alex Marquez\u2019s braking improvements have come from a mental shift, it\u2019s easy to understand why Bagnaia is still battling troubles that have plagued him well over a year.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>However, he did note that the GP26 is \u201chonest\u201d on the front-end, so he can at least understand what set-up directions might work. He said he headed out in PR with something Alex Marquez was using, but got no information on it due to his crash.<\/p>\n<p>All four Aprilias worked with the soft rear in PR, with Raul Fernandez and Martin on par with Bezzecchi\u2019s pace. But right now, Alex Marquez and Ducati &#8211; for the first time in a season he is 42 points worse off than at the same stage last year &#8211; are the ones with the target on their back heading into the rest of the Spanish Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306341_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 Spanish MotoGP<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>What\u2019s going on with Marc Marquez?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The extended break between the US and Spanish races due to the war in Iran offered reigning world champion Marc Marquez crucial recovery time. The right shoulder he injured last October continued to be a problem across the opening three rounds.<\/p>\n<p>Coming into the weekend, he said he was back to a physical level good enough to push on. But he still looks out of sorts as the Spanish Grand Prix begins.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>His one-lap speed is fine. He was fourth overall, but over half a second adrift of the leading GP26 of Alex Marquez. His long run pace was also ok. Across a six-lap run, he averaged 1m37.429s, with a 1m37.414s coming on the 15th lap of his medium rear tyre. That\u2019s encouraging and looks like it could potentially get him into the podium picture.<\/p>\n<p>But he needs to make another step to cement that, with the reigning champion noting that his younger brother \u201chas a better chance of winning than I do of finishing on the podium\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Physically, Marc Marquez says he is fine, but he concedes that the fast right-handers at the end of the lap are still giving him trouble. As for the pace of Alex Marquez and Di Giannantonio on the same GP26, he simply concedes, \u201cthey\u2019re faster\u201d.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/motogp\/feature\/1093417\/1\/why-one-ducati-stars-unrealistic-jerez-motogp-dream-looks-anything&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1306575_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Why one Ducati star\u2019s \u2018unrealistic\u2019 Jerez MotoGP dream looks anything but Aprilia looks to be facing its first real test of a 2026 MotoGP campaign it has so far dominated, as Ducati led the way on Friday at the Spanish Grand Prix. Alex Marquez believed a repeat of his 2025 Jerez heroics [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1901986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1901986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1901986"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1901986\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1901986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1901986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1901986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}