Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia are aiming to secure another MotoGP championship for Ducati in 2026 with the new Desmosedici GP26. After contrasting fortunes in 2025, where Marquez dominated on a bike Bagnaia struggled to handle, both riders appear more evenly matched heading into the new season.
Throughout 2025, Marquez secured 11 victories while Bagnaia managed just two on the GP25, a model the Italian rider found difficult to adapt to. However, Ducati’s 2026 model draws on features from their highly successful GP24, and Marquez has already been testing some 2024 aerodynamic upgrades during pre-season at Sepang, suggesting strong potential for the new bike.
Race Simulations Highlight Bagnaia’s Improved Performance
In recent race simulations, Bagnaia has reportedly found the braking and corner entry feel he sought after all last year with the GP26. His pace in practice runs has even surpassed Marquez’s, offering signs of a resurgence for the Italian rider on the latest Ducati machinery. Ducati riders expressed satisfaction after testing in Malaysia, with all factory team members showing positive reactions to the redesigned bike.
Marquez and Bagnaia’s Hidden Advantage at Starts
Peter Bom, observing the Sepang test, spotted a unique feature on the GP26 machines of Marquez and Bagnaia: an extra lever not present on other Ducati bikes. Discussing this detail on the Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast, Bom suggested this component could enhance starts by providing a more effective launch control mechanism.
“There was another thing that caught our attention at the test,”
Bom explained.
“The end of last year, and now, there is sort of a rumour going around that Marc and Pecco have something on their Ducati 25s that helps them at the start, something else as the front and the rear right high device, something else. I think I have an idea what it is. Something does go to another lever that the other bikes don’t have. So both Marc and Pecco had one bike with some extra s— on it and an extra lever on it.”
He continued,
“He reached for that lever and then he has the perfect start. But every time Marc comes for the practice start, he waits for his brother to arrive on the right side where everybody’s watching you [in the] pit lane, then he engages it and goes out.”
Bom’s remarks reveal the secrecy surrounding this technical advantage, which could prove decisive in launching both riders off the line.
Ducati’s Clear Lead Over Competitors Confirmed in Testing
The pre-season testing in Malaysia offered an early glimpse at the competitive landscape for 2026, with Ducati maintaining a distinct advantage. Jorge Lorenzo, a respected figure in MotoGP, remarked on Ducati’s superior cornering stability this season. Riders also reported feeling more comfortable on the GP26, a notable improvement from the GP25, which had posed considerable challenges for both the riders and technical teams.
Forecast: Ducati Riders’ Battle for 2026 Championship Positions
After struggling with the GP25, Bagnaia seems poised to reclaim a leading role thanks to the GP26’s enhanced braking and handling. His recent performance boosts expectations that he will be a strong contender at the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Marquez, despite still managing the aftermath of an injury sustained in Indonesia late last year, remains a key frontrunner ahead of the season’s opening race in Thailand scheduled for March.
The developments in the Ducati camp, especially the potential start-launch advantage of the secret lever, could influence the early races and shape the battle for the 2026 MotoGP title. Observers and fans will be watching closely as both riders aim to capitalize on these innovations to maximize their results throughout the season.
