Marc Marquez may be leading the 2026 MotoGP championship hunt, but Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi insists the fight is far from over, with Aprilia still pegged as the favourite for the title.

After the Australian Grand Prix weekend, Marquez extended his championship lead to 10 points by winning the Sprint race. His closest rival Jorge Martin crashed out and sustained a non-displaced fracture to his radius, putting the Spaniard’s title challenge in jeopardy.

Martin’s crash decides the Sprint

The Australian GP itself was cancelled due to severe weather and limited visibility that compromised medical helicopter operations. Martin’s injury came during a fierce battle with Marquez in the Sprint race, where the Ducati rider’s crash on lap eight handed Marquez the win and a crucial points boost.

Tardozzi described their duel as a “championship-deciding battle,” highlighting the intensity of the title fight.

Speaking to AS, Tardozzi expressed sympathy for Martin’s injury but also acknowledged the sporting significance: “I’m sorry he got injured. I’ve heard he’ll probably be at Sepang, as the fracture isn’t serious, and for me, the person comes first. Then, from a sporting point of view, he’s a hero who’ll be trying to score points in Malaysia so as not to lose too many.”

Martin’s participation in the upcoming Malaysian round remains uncertain. Missing races in Malaysia and potentially Qatar could cost him up to 74 championship points, a setback that would severely damage his title aspirations.

Why Tardozzi still backs Aprilia

Despite Marquez’s current advantage and Martin’s injury woes, Tardozzi remains convinced that Aprilia holds the edge in the championship battle. He stressed that the Aprilia RS-GP will outperform Ducati’s Desmosedici on at least three or four of the remaining circuits, declaring: “I don’t feel it’s any closer. I think the Aprilias are still the favourites. There are still three or four circuits left where they’ll surely be more competitive than us, but I think Marc will have to do his bit to try and stay at the top of the championship.”

With Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi sitting 50 points behind Marquez, the dynamics of the championship are precarious. Martin’s fitness and ability to contest the remaining rounds will be pivotal in shaping the title fight.

For now, Marquez leads, but Tardozzi’s confidence in Aprilia’s potential signals that the 2026 MotoGP championship is far from sealed. Read more on Martin’s recovery before the Malaysian GP.