Marc Marquez admits the 2026 Ducati MotoGP bike “is critical”, but worrying reveals “so am I”, following a difficult start to his title defence.

The seven-time world champion endured a difficult winter as he recovered from the complex shoulder surgery he suffered last October.

But the aftereffects of it are continuing to plague him, with Marc Marquez not making the sharp start to the season he did 12 months ago.

Though he has shown good qualifying speed and sprint form, winning the Brazil Saturday race and was denied one in Thailand due to a penalty, results have been harder to come by on Sundays.

He was on course for a podium in Thailand before a wheel failure late on took him out, while he was beaten to third by Fabio Di Giannantonio in Brazil and finished fourth in America after serving a long lap for a collision with the former in the sprint.

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It marks the first time since 2024 that he hasn’t scored a grand prix podium inside the first three rounds.

Marquez admits “I’m struggling”

Relative to Aprilia, Ducati has been a step behind in grands prix this season, with Pecco Bagnaia noting that the Noale brand is “quite far ahead”.

Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi defended Marquez’s results after Austin, noting that he is still suffering from the shoulder injury he sustained in Indonesia last year.

In a new episode of Ducati’s Inside video series detailing the US Grand Prix, Marquez tells his mechanics that the bike is “one point” to fix, but his physical condition is also a major factor.

“Yeah, I was going fast there. I felt really good,” he detailed his race when speaking about his pace after serving his long lap at COTA.

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“In the end, too. I could have continued like this with this pace.

“If I didn’t waste time there, by overtaking Pecco and Enea, I could have caught DiGia.

“The bike is critical, but so am I. I’m struggling.

“The bike is definitely one point, but I’m another point.

“I rewatched the races of Thailand and Brazil, if I get the first three laps right, we’re in for the win.”

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The extended April break gives Marquez an opportunity to recover his shoulder, with the next race not until the end of the month at Jerez after the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix.

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