Andrew McLarneyMotoGP Reporter
Andrew McLarney is a MotoGP reporter for GPBlog. A former karate black belt and two-time national champion by age 17, his early passion for combat sports evolved into a deep interest in UFC and eventually motorsport — with MotoGP becoming his primary focus.
Ducati's lead engineer Gigi Dall'Igna has stated that he feels reigning champion Marc Marquez will be back to his best ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.
Largely considered the mastermind behind Ducati's recent dominance in the premier class, Dall'Igna has remained optimistic despite the team's poor start to the 2026 season.
Speaking with Italian outlet Moto.it, the Ducati boss gave his views on Marquez's condition:
"It's clear [Marquez] had a rather serious injury; he missed five races at the end of the season, so he's still progressing in his rehabilitation. But honestly, I see him doing well, and I think he'll be 100% fit by Jerez," He said.
This follows increased speculation that Marquez could retire from the sport at the end of the season after the injuries sustained throughout his career appear to be finally taking their toll on the Spaniard.
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As for the current concession system and how it has impacted Ducati's development, Dall'Igna had this to say:
"The concession system is certainly designed to try to rebalance the system a bit, obviously, thus penalising Ducati, which has certainly made a difference from a technical standpoint in recent years,"
"But I repeat, this is not an excuse, and we are here to try to fight for victory, so we definitely need to roll up our sleeves and do everything in our power to bring our bike back to being the benchmark in the MotoGP system."
As for where the team can make improvements during the Jerez test, which will follow the main Grand Prix and take place on Monday 27 April, Dall'Igna stated:
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"There will be a test after Jerez, but we'll probably also try to run some tests during the race [weekend] to find some solutions. [...] We clearly have some ideas, and we need to understand whether these ideas are the right ones or not, so Monday's test will definitely be important."
Ducati test 850cc project at Misano as 2027 rule changes take shape
Photo: Ducati Media House
Ducati have been forced to play catch-up in the early stages of 2026, but they are keeping ahead of the game when it comes to next year's regulation overhaul, which will see the teams field reduced 850cc engines.
Earlier this week, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro was spotted at the Misano Circuit in Emilia-Romagna giving the new 850cc a spin. Read all about the Ducati test here.
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