Marc Marquez is starting the 2026 MotoGP season with a handicap: his right shoulder is forcing him to adopt a different riding style and return to the 2024 aerodynamics.
At the start of the 2026 MotoGP season, the focus for Marc Marquez is less on his role as favorite and more on his physical condition. The defending champion speaks openly about the ongoing effects of his shoulder injury and explains why he has to ride his Ducati differently than he did in 2025.
Marquez used the five days of winter testing to evaluate both his right shoulder and Ducati’s new package. Technically, progress has been made. On the last day of testing in particular, he said he had “taken good steps in the direction I want to go.” He feels “better and better” on the bike.
Shoulder as a limiting factor
But physically, the situation is more complex. The lengthy rehabilitation process makes it difficult to ride consistently. The injury affects his precision, both in his feedback to the engineers and on the track.
It is “a little more difficult to be precise in my comments and to always ride in the same way,” the Ducati factory rider summarizes the situation.
The shoulder injury he sustained in Indonesia initially seemed harmless. “It looked like a simple injury at first, but it wasn’t a simple one,” he clarifies. Especially because his right shoulder was affected again, everything takes more time.
He himself doesn’t know exactly where his 100 percent currently lies. That’s why, for him, the main thing at the moment is to keep at it and realistically assess where he stands during a real race weekend. “I feel that there is still room for improvement,” says Marquez with regard to his fitness.
Tests were particularly stressful
Interestingly, he found the test drives particularly challenging under the circumstances. When you don’t feel completely fit, they are “the hardest thing ever.” The constant stop-and-go, hours of concentration, new runs over and over again: “You have to stay connected for six hours straight.”
In a way, a race weekend is more clearly structured and therefore easier to manage. This is another reason why the Spaniard expects a solid start to the season. He hopes to “get off to a good start here,” but is also aware of the strength of the competition.
“Of course, the level increases every year. Since Ducati has already been very strong in recent years, it may be more difficult to improve, but we are trying to make a difference with small details,” Marquez looks ahead.
Why Marquez is opting for the 2024 aero package
When it comes to aerodynamics, Marquez has deliberately decided to start the season with the 2024 package – partly because of his shoulder. Basically, he says, you have to find “the best package for your own situation and your own riding style.”
The step back is not a technical step backwards, but an adaptation to his physical reality. The 2025 package was heavier and more physically demanding.
“I can’t ride the bike in the same way as last year at the moment,” Marquez admits in this context. “I don’t have the strength I had last year. That’s why I need a bike that steers a little better, stays on track better, and doesn’t require me to push as hard as I did last year.”
That’s exactly why they opted for the aero version, which is less physically demanding. Both packages performed well in testing, “but in different ways.” Currently, it’s not about riding the most aggressive or modern package, but the one that suits his condition.
Defending the title despite handicap is the goal
The fact that he also has to adapt his riding style accordingly is nothing new for the reigning MotoGP world champion – and at the same time part of his self-image.
“I will try once again in my career to adapt my riding style to this new situation,” he announced. Only when he feels physically ready again will he be able to get closer to what he showed in 2025, when the Spaniard celebrated 25 victories and 31 podium finishes.
Marquez is not currently thinking about breaking these records. However, his ambitions remain as high as ever. “When you wear a red Ducati shirt, the goal is always to fight for the world championship,” he states unequivocally.
