Before the 2026 MotoGP season began, the vast majority of fans and experts thought that Marc Marquez would continue the Spanish domination of this class and retain the title he claimed last year. Even with Marquez concentrating on recovering from injury, it seemed like the torch had passed on to another great.
But the opening races of the year have not gone as expected. If anything, a new champion might have emerged, with one man taking the checkered flag at each of the three opening meetings. Anyone confidently making their best MotoGP predictions will probably be looking in one direction at the current time.
But the MotoGP season is a long one, with months of high-octane racing to come. No one wins a championship in April, and there are sure to be plenty of thrills and spills before the champion is crowned after the Grand Prix in Valencia at the end of November. It already looks like it will be a very memorable MotoGP season, but who will take the honors in 2026?
Marc Marquez
A serious shoulder injury sustained at the Grand Prix of Indonesia last October didn’t stop most people from thinking that MotoGP would still be under the stewardship of Spain again, at least when it comes to riders, in 2026. But just a few races into the new season, and the likelihood of another title for Marc Marquez already seems to be diminishing.
The sprint in Thailand had gone perfectly well, with only Pedro Acosta beating Márquez, but technical issues saw the champion’s GP race finish early. He was unable to manage a podium finish in the next two races either, and he has admitted that his injury has made it impossible for him to race in the way he wants to. There is still plenty of time for a comeback, but Márquez’s title hopes must already be in question.
Marco Bezzecchi
The big benefactor of Márquez’s issues this year has been Marco Bezzecchi. “Bez” is hardly an unknown, but taking all three checkered flags at the beginning of this season has changed everyone’s perception of the Italian rider. Add the two victories at the end of last season, and he has become only the third rider in the modern era to win five consecutive Grand Prix.
Bezzecchi has spearheaded the Ducati resurgence this year, and he has not found himself in the position he is by accident. His racing has been superb. But his sprints have been unimpressive, leaving him open to a challenge that he probably shouldn’t have to face, due to his Grand Prix dominance. Bezzecchi will need to improve on that front to establish a comfortable points lead.
Jorge Martin
One rider who will know all about the importance of sprints is Jorge Martin. In 2024, the Ducati man benefited from Pecco Bagnaia’s poor performances in the shorter races to claim his one and only championship (up until now). The Aprilia effect has certainly shown this year, with Martin standing second in the rankings after three races.
Martin wasn’t able to finish on the podium in Thailand, but followed his teammate over the line in Brazil and in the US, where he made an electrifying move on the final lap to overtake Francesco Bagnaia in the sprint. All the attention has been on Bezzecchi’s start to the year, but Jorge Martin is perfectly poised to make a play for the title himself.
Raúl Fernández
It is not only the Aprilia factory team that has done well so far this year. Trackhouse MotoGP, Aprilia’s satellite team have already scored some early success, with Raúl Fernández continuing to show that he could be one of the real stars of the future. His first Grand Prix win came in Australia last season, and there could be many more to come.
Fernández should be considered an outsider when it comes to any possible championship hopes, but the Aprilia teams are showing that this could be their year, and the Spanish rider has already recorded one podium finish in 2026. It was actually a double podium finish for Fernández in Thailand, and two top ten Grand Prix finishes in the following races promise a breakthrough year for the young rider.
Fabio Di Giannantonio
Ducati has been utterly dominant in recent years in MotoGP. The last four champions have all ridden the Italian manufacturer’s motorcycles, and it has also claimed the last four constructors’ championships. That was one of the main reasons why many thought Marquez’s injury would not hinder their chances this year.
It is the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio who is outperforming all other Ducati riders at the moment, however. He has recorded back-to-back poles and finished on the podium in the opening races, and he is looking good to post a first Grand Prix victory in three years. With the form he is showing in the early races, Di Giannantonio has to be considered a contender, at the very least, this year.
A Long MotoGP Season Ahead
Making any kind of definitive prediction at this stage of the MotoGP season is obviously tricky. The riders are just getting used to competitive racing again, and there are sure to be plenty of twists and turns as the months go on.
Although every motorsports fan wants to see Marc Márquez show his best form, his injury has allowed a host of other riders the chance to compete. The 2026 MotoGP season is promising to be incredibly exciting – for every single race – and that can only be good for the sport.
