Ducati in trouble in MotoGP 2026: Tardozzi between Marquez and the Rossi case

Tardozzi analyses Ducati's situation and reopens the issue of the relationship between Marquez and Rossi

Ducati forced to chase in 2026

2026 is proving more complicated than expected for Ducati. After years of dominance, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer now finds itself chasing, with a Desmosedici that is less intuitive and more difficult to exploit to the full.

Team manager Davide Tardozzi analysed the situation clearly: talent alone from the riders is no longer enough to make up for the technical limits. A concrete step forward is needed in development.

A Desmosedici that is more difficult to manage

The new bike has a narrower operating window, making it difficult to find consistency between qualifying and the race. A factor that directly affects results.

Aprilia, the new protagonist of the championship

Meanwhile, Aprilia has taken a clear step forward and today represents a competitive benchmark. For the first time in years, Ducati is being forced to play catch-up.

Marc Marquez not at 100%: the current situation

At the centre of Ducati's project is Marc Márquez, a key rider for returning to the top.

Physical condition and track performance

The Spaniard is not yet in his best physical shape, something that inevitably affects performance and consistency during the race weekend.

The weight of talent in Ducati's season

Even so, Márquez remains a world-class rider capable of making the difference. But this very dependence on one individual highlights a problem: Ducati needs a stronger technical base.

The Rossi-Marquez issue returns

Beyond the track, another unresolved matter is also grabbing attention: the relationship between Valentino Rossi and Márquez.

Tardozzi's words on a possible clarification

Tardozzi expressed the desire to see some sign between the two, underlining how the affair is more complex than it appears publicly.

A rivalry that has marked MotoGP

The one between Rossi and Márquez is one of the most iconic and controversial rivalries in modern MotoGP. A split born in 2015 and never truly healed.

MotoGP between present and history

The 2026 season therefore unfolds on two levels: the sporting one and the symbolic one.

Ducati in search of solutions

The Italian team must react quickly in order to become competitive again and not lose ground in the title fight.

A gesture between Rossi and Marquez could change everything

Any rapprochement between Rossi and Márquez would not change the past, but it could rewrite the ending of a story that marked an era.