Alex Marquez’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix was a much-needed boost for Ducati, but it came from an unexpected source – the Gresini rider who will be heading to KTM in 2027.
Ducati haven’t started the 2026 season as they would’ve hoped. Marc Marquez has been dealing with injuries since winter testing, and Aprilia have taken full advantage in the early rounds.
According to Alex, though, it isn’t just down to his brother’s absence. He believes Aprilia’s progress is more about their own work than anything Ducati is lacking. He also suggested that his team is still searching for the right setup on the GP26.
Alex had struggled with setup issues on his bike leading up to race day, but something clicked during the Grand Prix itself. The Spanish crowd backed him all weekend, and he capitalised on Marc’s early crash to secure a second consecutive win at Jerez.
This result gives Ducati a platform to build from as they try to close the gap on Aprilia. However, this turnaround has come through a rider who won’t be part of their future plans – a decision that now looks even more questionable.
Ducati is already feeling the impact of Alex Marquez’s move to KTM
Alex Marquez is set to join KTM in 2027, finally stepping into a factory role that he’s long aimed for. While it’s a major gain for the Austrians, Ducati may already be feeling the consequences of letting him go.
The Spaniard brings experience and race-winning ability, qualities that are hard to replace, especially with new regulations on the horizon. Replacing him with rookie Daniel Holgado adds another layer of risk as Ducati enters an uncertain period.
Marquez has shown his value in 2026 by being one of the few riders able to push the GP26 near its limits. While others have struggled against Aprilia, he managed to find something extra at Jerez, putting together a strong weekend and delivering a much-needed result.
Even Francesco Bagnaia has recognised Marquez’s approach, telling Ducati to ‘copy’ what he was doing on the bike. It was a rare bit of clear direction during what has been an up-and-down start to the season.
Ducati could still turn its season around if they build on this momentum and addresses the issues holding it back. But if they continue to fall behind Aprilia while KTM gains ground under Marquez’s influence, their decision not to keep him might become even harder for fans and engineers alike.
Alex Marquez felt overlooked at Ducati before the KTM switch
Ducati had several opportunities throughout 2025 and early 2026 to offer him more security, but they didn’t act quickly enough as his contract neared its end.
Even though he was on a factory-spec bike with Gresini in 2026, there was never serious talk of him stepping into a full factory seat.
Feeling undervalued played into his decision as well. He wanted backing from Gigi Dall’Igna but never felt truly supported within Ducati. That lack of trust from management made him decide it was time for a change ahead of the new regulations.
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