Alex Criville thinks Ducati are in a tough spot in MotoGP, unsure of which bike in their lineup is actually the best.
Ducati have been the standout force since 2020 and took every title in 2025, but last season exposed some problems. The GP25 was clearly a step back from the GP24.
The 2024 Desmosedici might go down as one of the greatest bikes ever built, racking up 16 wins from 20 races. But the following year’s model gave riders plenty to complain about – though Marc Marquez seemed able to work around most of them.
Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio both struggled with feedback issues on the new bike, while those still riding the older GP24 looked far more at ease. Franco Morbidelli has now picked up similar complaints to Bagnaia as he battles with this season’s version.
Unlike other manufacturers who bring updates each season for all teams, Ducati don’t operate like that. In MotoGP, only two teams (the factory Ducati team and Pramac Racing) use the newest bike straight away. The other three teams stick with last year’s model until a mid-season update comes along (if they get one at all).
This staggered approach has led to debates about which version is better – especially with early feedback already favouring last year’s machine over this year’s. Ducati will still be expected to challenge for titles again. They have nine bikes on the grid compared to Yamaha and Aprilia’s two, but early form suggests we could be in for a tighter race than usual.
Ducati’s uncertainty growing over their top MotoGP machine, says Criville
Ducati have struggled to match the success they found with the GP24, and in 2026, it took until Jerez for Alex Marquez to secure their first win of the season. In the meantime, Aprilia has emerged as the standout team on the grid.
Marc Marquez is yet to finish on a Sunday podium this year, partly due to ongoing fitness issues. But Criville has also pointed towards Ducati’s side of things as part of the problem, saying the consistency is no longer there and that there are clear questions around which bike configuration they should be backing.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, he explained: “Marc Márquez is struggling. It’s clear he has a physical limitation that prevents him from feeling completely comfortable, so we’ll see if he regains his feel for the bike, more mobility, and more strength in that limb.
“Add to that the fact that he barely had any preseason testing, that the Ducati no longer has the same consistency as before, and that doubts are arising about which version of the bike is best.”
Marc Marquez decided against switching back to the GP24 despite issues with the GP26
Alex Marquez believes every Ducati rider is experiencing similar problems with the GP26, especially when it comes to corner entry, which they say is down to how the bike now behaves.
Ducati’s development path has clearly moved away from what made the GP24 so dominant, and there are now questions about whether they should return to that base.
Even Bagnaia has said he would be more competitive on the older model this year. While any Ducati rider could choose to make that switch, Marc Marquez has opted not to.
Marquez remains convinced that staying with the newer model is the right move. He pointed out Alex Marquez’s win at Jerez as evidence, noting how much quicker his brother was compared to last year. For Marc, progress means looking ahead rather than going back.
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