Neil Hodgson warns that a single mistake at Jerez could jeopardize Marc Marquez's chances of winning the 2026 title. Ducati is preparing to reclaim their position after Aprilia's strong start to the season.
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Ducati eyeing redemption after Aprilia dominance in early season
Aprilia are braced for Ducati to bounce back, aware of the old adage that the championship really starts when it gets to Europe. But Bezzecchi almost has an entire race weekend in his pocket against Marquez, with only 37 points available across a Sprint and a Grand Prix.
It should be said that Francesco Bagnaia, Marquezâs Ducati teammate, overturned a much larger 91-point deficit against Fabio Quartararo in just eight rounds during the 2022 season. That is the greatest comeback of the modern era.
Pressureâs building on Marc Marquez as MotoGP heads to Spain, says Neil Hodgson
Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
It was at the United States GP last year when Marquez first handed over the championship lead, falling out front to gift the top spot to his brother Alex. Then at Jerez, another crash cost him a shot at victory.
He managed to salvage 12th place from that race and stayed upright until the Misano Sprint later in the year. But Hodgson pointed out that with the points gap already in place this season, another slip could do real damage to his chances.
This yearâs first significant misstep came during the USA Sprint when Marquez collided with VR46âs Fabio Di Giannantonio, not only ruining his Saturday but also landing him a penalty for Sundayâs main event.
Hodgson doesnât expect Marquez to break Apriliaâs five-race winning run at Jerez either, especially since itâs a circuit that should play right into their strengths.
âMarcâs 36 points behind,â he told TNT Sports. âHe canât afford a mistake. We saw him make quite a few mistakes early on last year. So far, he actually hasnât made a mistake.â
âThe pressureâs on him at Jerez,â he continued. âBut think of Jerez as a layout â long, hanging corners, you need a bike that turns well. The Aprilia is now fast; itâs good on the brakesâŠâ
Marc Marquez may need to push harder soon
On the Oxley Bom podcast, Mat Oxley noted that Marquez looked hesitant in Austin, even though he did well to climb back to fifth after serving his penalty.
âAfter the long lap, when he was coming through, when he got up behind Bagnaia, Iâve never seen him so cautious in all my life,â he said. âThat was when Bagnaia fell off a cliff and was going visibly slower, and he still wouldnât go past him!â
Marquez may be taking it easy while he continues to recover from his shoulder injury or waits for Ducatiâs updates to make an impact.
That approach can work for a while, but if Bezzecchi and Aprilia continue to build their lead, Marquez might have no choice but to take more risks. Heâll also be hoping that Jorge Martinâs recent form leads to the pair splitting points more often, which could help keep Bezzecchi within reach.
What did Neil Hodgson say about Marc Marquez's title hopes for 2026?
Neil Hodgson warned that one slip at Jerez could permanently end Marc Marquez's chances of winning the 2026 title.
How many points are available for Marc Marquez at Jerez?
There are 37 points available for Marc Marquez across a Sprint and a Grand Prix at Jerez.
What is Ducati's current situation in the championship compared to Aprilia?
Ducati is looking to bounce back in the championship after being dominated by Aprilia in the early season.
What was Francesco Bagnaia's comeback in the 2022 season?
Francesco Bagnaia made a remarkable comeback by overturning a 91-point deficit against Fabio Quartararo in just eight rounds during the 2022 season.
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