Luca Cadalora thinks Marc Marquez will be among the favourites to win the Brazilian Grand Prix, even though some believe the Goiania circuit doesn’t play to his strengths.
There’s a view that Goiania’s layout, with its nine right-handers out of 14 corners, isn’t ideal for Marquez, who has long dealt with issues related to his right shoulder. This has led some to question whether it’s the right place for him to turn things around in 2026.
Throughout his career, Marquez has shown a preference for left-hand corners. His ability to carry extra speed through them has often been a key part of his success, especially noticeable at tracks like Sachsenring. In Goiania, you only use the left side of the tyre between Turns 5 and 10, which could also lead to temperature concerns.
Despite that, Cadalora still backs Marquez to challenge Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and KTM’s Pedro Acosta for the win.
Luca Cadalora backs Marc Marquez to compete for Brazilian GP win as shoulder injury limited him in Thailand
Some believe the Brazilian GP could be where Marquez gets back on track, following a second-place finish in the Buriram Sprint and a DNF in the main race, caused by a puncture from a broken rear tyre rim.
Marquez is still working his way back to full fitness after having shoulder surgery last October. He hasn’t quite reached the point where he feels comfortable pushing the Ducati Desmosedici GP26 to its maximum yet. Cadalora believes that played a role in Thailand but expects improvements this weekend.
“Ducati? It seems to me that already last year, many of them were less consistent, apart from Marquez, of course. Then perhaps we haven’t yet seen Ducati’s potential with MM, who wasn’t physically at his best and in Buriram he rode a bit on the defensive.
“Acosta? He’s doing everything himself. He’s putting a lot of effort into it. He’s very strong.”
Luca Cadalora expects Marc Marquez to contend in Brazil despite shoulder concerns
Marquez’s ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery limited his performance at Buriram, where Bezzecchi and the Aprilia RS-GP had a strong showing, thanks in part to the bike’s preference for Michelin’s harder rear tyre carcass over the GP26.
Due to the physical demands of the newer design, Marquez has opted to stick with Ducati’s 2024 aero package this season. It puts less strain on his recovering shoulder than what was tested during pre-season. The Brazilian Grand Prix should offer a clearer picture of his current fitness.
Fortunately for Marquez, there was a three-week break after Thailand, giving him extra time to work on his fitness before heading to Goiania. He’ll be hoping that time helps him build momentum before returning to COTA, one of his strongest circuits.
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