MOTORCYCLING: Gresini's Marquez keeps faith in Ducati despite Aprilia's early dominance

Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez remains optimistic about Ducati's ability to regain its championship-winning form, despite Aprilia's strong start to the 2026 MotoGP season.

Ducati has dominated the MotoGP in recent years, with the last four champions riding Ducati bikes and the Italian manufacturer securing four consecutive constructors' titles. However, this season has seen a surprising challenge from Aprilia, with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin taking the top two spots after three rounds. Bezzecchi, in particular, has been on a roll, securing a hat-trick of wins to kick off his campaign.

The best-placed Ducati rider so far is Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Racing, sitting in fourth place, with last year's champion Marc Marquez of Ducati currently in fifth.

Despite the early dominance of Aprilia, Marquez is confident that Ducati's leadership will find a way to keep them in the title hunt. "Ducati has always been the ones pulling rabbits out of the hat for years, the ones who, when people said 'the bike can't be improved any further,' went and built an even better bike," Marquez said in an interview with MARCA. "That's why I believe their approach and the way they work is the right one, and they have that hunger to keep dominating. That's why I believe in them so much."

Marquez, who currently sits in eighth place in the standings, added that Ducati's goal is clear: "If there are six bikes on the grid, their aim is to have all six up front."

The MotoGP season continues with the fourth round at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain on April 26.

-Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters