As the 2026 MotoGP pre-season testing wrapped up last weekend at Buriram, Aprilia emerged as a serious contender, following the momentum it gained with a 1-2 finish at last November’s Valencia Grand Prix, led by Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez. With the 1000cc engine regulations remaining unchanged for their final season, Ducati’s previously large edge is expected to narrow, setting the stage for a tighter rivalry between these two manufacturers.
Aprilia demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout 2025, developing a strong platform that transformed it into a frequent threat for race victories mid-season. Although Ducati still secured the majority of wins, its GP25 was primarily suited to reigning world champion Marc Marquez, while the older GP24 model lost pace as Aprilia grew stronger during the latter part of the campaign. Heading into the 2026 season opener at the Thai Grand Prix, the racing landscape maintains the status quo: Ducati leads narrowly, with Aprilia closing fast behind.
Top Performance Highlights from the Buriram Test
During the final day of pre-season testing in Buriram, Aprilia topped the charts when Marco Bezzecchi set a scintillating lap time of 1m28.668s, breaking the existing track record in optimal conditions. This milestone illustrated Aprilia’s progression since last year’s Thai Grand Prix, where it managed two top-five finishes. Now, the team enters the 2026 event armed with credible hopes of securing a win.
Aprilia’s testing campaign was relatively straightforward, focusing on refining systems that showed promise during earlier tests at Sepang. Meanwhile, Ducati concentrated on adapting its aerodynamic packages for each rider, a task which appears to have been finalized by the conclusion of Buriram testing.
On long-run pace, Aprilia impressed as well; Ai Ogura clocked an impressive average of 1m30.101s over twelve laps, while Bezzecchi completed twenty laps with an average close to 1m30.454s. These figures approach the pace at which Marc Marquez won the 2025 sprint race at Buriram, where he averaged 1m30.357s across twelve laps despite a tyre pressure issue limiting his full potential. Such consistency bodes well for Aprilia’s prospects this season.
Marc Marquez and Other Riders Reflect on the Testing Results
KTM’s Pedro Acosta described the pace displayed by Ducati and Aprilia at Buriram as “scary,” highlighting how these two brands tower over the rest of the grid in terms of speed and race simulation performance. The fastest five riders on long runs all belong to teams from these manufacturers, underscoring their clear advantage entering the new season.
Marc Marquez pointed out the step forward Aprilia has taken, particularly praising Marco Bezzecchi’s rapid progress along with promising performances from Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura. He said,
“Of course, Aprilia, especially with Marco, but also [Jorge] Martin with only one test, and also [Ai] Ogura, they did a step, Already last year, Marco finished the second half of the season super-fast. So, he will be a title contender from the beginning.”
— Marc Marquez, Rider
Alex Marquez, who led the opening day of testing after a strong showing at Sepang, echoed the realistic outlook, stating,
“We have to be realistic: the first races will not be like last year that all the Ducatis were really on top and the difference compared to the other manufacturers was so big.”
— Alex Marquez, Rider
When asked if he believed his Aprilia package could support a championship challenge, Bezzecchi responded cautiously:
“I don’t know. Of course, I would love to. My main target right now is to start in a better way than last year, because the first half of last season was a bit up and down. So, my target is to be more consistent from the beginning. Hopefully, I can fight for good races, good results, but my main target right now is to start in a better way. And then, of course, I’m open to changing my target during the season.”
— Marco Bezzecchi, Rider
Both Aprilia and Ducati are keeping their strategies and cards close to their chests, but their dominance remains evident. Aprilia seems set to leverage its depth with riders like Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez in early rounds, while Jorge Martin’s impressive pace on limited track time signals his close proximity to the top group.
Ducati’s GP26 Package Shows Consistency and Technical Advances
Ducati’s new GP26 bike has demonstrated stronger consistency than earlier models, much to the delight of riders like Pecco Bagnaia, who has appeared optimistic throughout winter testing. His positive feedback is critical to understanding Ducati’s relative strength heading into the season. One major advancement is the improved ride height device, which Bagnaia credits for better braking performance—a significant upgrade from the GP25, which challenged the double world champion in these areas.
Alex Marquez gave a subtle nod to the new technology, replying with a hint of surprise when asked about Bagnaia’s comments:
“He said that? Yeah, we have something, but I will not say how I feel…”
— Alex Marquez, Rider
Challenges and Setbacks for Ducati During Testing
Ducati’s Buriram testing was not without difficulties. Alex Marquez crashed during his race simulation on the final day, and Bagnaia experienced a minor technical problem while completing a full-distance run. Additionally, Marc Marquez was hampered by a stomach illness, resulting in three crashes over two days, the most damaging of which occurred seven laps into his race run, when his pace was competitive at around 1m29.9s.
Had he continued beyond 20 laps, analysts suggest he would have matched Bezzecchi’s lap times. This performance gap aligns with Marquez’s recent physical setbacks following shoulder surgery, and he remains cautiously optimistic as fitness improves.
Marquez commented on his progress post-testing, saying,
“I’m very, very happy because the feeling with the bike was good all morning, and I was riding in a good way. All three crashes I had this weekend were a lack of concentration… I’m 100% convinced and clear on what I need now and how we will start [with the bike].”
— Marc Marquez, Rider
Although it was not until last year’s opening race that Marquez’s full potential aboard the Ducati was evident, the forthcoming Friday practice sessions at the Thai Grand Prix are expected to provide a clearer picture of his readiness and competitive form.
Assessment of Competitors Beyond Ducati and Aprilia
Looking beyond the two frontrunners, the competitive order suggests Ducati and Aprilia pull ahead, with KTM and Honda battling for a close third place, while Yamaha struggles to keep pace. KTM appears to have rebounded from earlier setbacks in 2025, supported by a stable financial base and significant technical updates in chassis and aerodynamics that bolster its chances of podium finishes early in the season.
Pedro Acosta remains KTM’s standout rider, though teammate Maverick Vinales has been less competitive compared to last year’s form. Brad Binder made promising advances on the final testing day after earlier challenges during race runs, while Enea Bastianini has acknowledged he won’t contend for a top-five finish at Buriram.
Tyre management was a hurdle for KTM in 2025, but Acosta noted his tyres held up better over long runs at Buriram this year. He admitted, however, that his pace still falls short of outright victory potential, stating,
“If it’s [the bike] much, much better, we should [be able to] fight for the win. It’s better. It’s clear there are two brands that are quite outstanding.”
— Pedro Acosta, Rider
Honda’s performance closely shadows KTM’s in race simulations, yet Joan Mir has reported ongoing grip issues with the RC213V, largely attributed to stiffer tyre carcasses employed by Michelin at tracks like Buriram and the Red Bull Ring. Though Honda has previously been competitive under these conditions, Mir admits,
“It isn’t a super competitive package yet.”
— Joan Mir, Rider
He believes a significant improvement in grip is essential for Honda to advance further, though the bike currently outperforms Yamaha’s new V4 model at this point in the season.
Yamaha, while showing greater reliability at Buriram compared to Sepang, continues to lag behind in terms of top speed, grip, and cornering ability. Fabio Quartararo offered a stark forecast for Yamaha’s 2026 prospects, indicating the bike remains months away from being truly race-ready. Conversely, Jack Miller exuded cautious optimism, noting the machine is beginning to regain handling qualities reminiscent of Yamaha’s famed inline-four models, though his comments suggest a tempered stance influenced by contractual circumstances.
The Road Ahead Heading into the 2026 Season Opener
As MotoGP prepares for the Thai Grand Prix, Ducati maintains a slender lead in overall pace, but Aprilia’s gains throughout pre-season testing suggest the championship battle will be fiercely contested. The performances of riders like Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, and Marquez will be crucial in setting the tone for the early rounds. Meanwhile, KTM and Honda are locked in a tight contest behind the frontrunners, with Yamaha still searching for the performance needed to rejoin the hunt.
Testing has revealed not only Ducati’s resilience and adaptability with its new GP26, but also Aprilia’s rise as a threat capable of challenging the established hierarchy. The initial races will offer important insights into how teams and riders respond under race conditions, determining if Aprilia’s threat materializes or if Ducati maintains its grip on the championship.
