Marc Marquez faces must-deliver weekend with MotoGP title calendar turning against him
Marquez has been told to strike while the iron is hot (Photo: Race Pictures)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marc Marquez may be facing the most crucial weekend of his MotoGP title challenge.
The reigning champion heads into the Japanese Grand Prix second in the standings, having lost his lead to Jorge Martin during a difficult weekend in Austria.
Marquez has already staged an almighty comeback this season to compete for his 10th world title, but the calendar may now be turning against him.
The 33-year-old has already admitted he won’t be at his best on clockwise circuits with right-handed corners due to his ongoing shoulder operations.
Favourable circuits beginning to run out for Marquez
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On top of that, we’re approaching a run of tracks where he historically hasn’t been at his best.
This weekend, though, Motegi is not only a track Marquez goes well at, but one where Ducati have traditionally been strong too, as they have won the last four Grands Prix since it returned to the calendar.
Yet according to MotoGP commentator and pundit Louis Suddaby, Marquez needs to achieve one aim this weekend or risk the next races loosening his control of the championship fight.
Martin is back on top in the standings (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
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Marc Marquez urged to capitalise in Japan
He explained: “It was a relatively uncompetitive ride on the Sunday [in Austria] with problems he later came to understand were under braking.
“It does put this weekend into a particular context, as it feels like it’s a bigger weekend for him than the Aprilias or Jorge Martin.
“[Martin] will be thinking we’ve got some really good venues to come, but you could argue the good venues for Marc Marquez are starting to run out; but this, on paper, would appear to be one.
“There’s no question about the circuits we have remaining; this feels like one of the more Marquez and Ducati-friendly circuits. Ducati have dominated here over the years and won the last four Grands Prix.”
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MotoGP then heads to Indonesia next weekend, where Marquez won’t want to arrive at a disadvantage.
Suddaby added: “We expect Marquez’s level to be slightly less [in Indonesia], and the level of the Aprilias to be far greater than everyone else, so this feels like a weekend where he has to at least out-score his title rivals.
“If it’s not a win this weekend, he has to at least outscore Martin and Bezzecchi; Pedro Acosta runs into the distance and wins, I don’t think Marquez will be gutted if he’s second behind him.
He continued on new race winner Acosta: “If you’re looking at circuits on the calendar and their characteristics, probably the closest to the Red Bull Ring in Austria is this one in terms of the premium it puts on a bike that goes well under braking and acceleration.
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“The KTM clearly works on certain characteristics of certain circuits but clearly doesn’t work as well as the Aprilia and the Ducati everywhere.”
Only three Marquez-friendly tracks remain
Seven races remain on the 2026 calendar with Marquez trailing Martin by 12 points and Bezzecchi a further 30 behind.
Of the remaining tracks, only three would be described as beneficial to Marquez and they are Japan, Australia’s Phillip Island and the Valencia finale.
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Along with Indonesia, Sepang, Losail and Portimao are all seen as unfavourable for his riding style and current injury troubles with right-hand turns.
However, Marquez is so good that he can still rack up results at tracks he logically shouldn’t be able to, for example, at Sepang, where he has the most wins of any rider, despite not tasting victory there since 2019.
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