WM-Leader Marc Marquez before Spielberg: "I have to start enjoying it"

– After 14 of 22 race weekends, the fight for the 2026 MotoGP World Championship title basically starts anew. Marc Marquez (Ducati) and Jorge Martin (Aprilia) each have 274 world championship points. Marquez leads the standings because he has already won five Grands Prix, while Martin has only won one.

With his comeback, Marquez has once again made history. After Mugello, his deficit was 102 world championship points. Never before has a rider made up such a large gap and taken the lead in the world championship.

“Of course, we are in a new but similar situation,” says Marquez ahead of the race weekend in Austria. “For me, it is very similar whether I lead the championship or am just a few points behind.”

“The approach remains the same. Of course, we try to give our best race by race. And yes, at the moment it looks like we have taken a step forward with Ducati and with the team.”

“We are changing a few things. Step by step I feel better and better. Let’s see if we can maintain the same performance this weekend.” Recently, Marquez won the sprints and the Grands Prix in Aragon and Misano.

When asked whether the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg is a track where he has to defend or attack, Marquez answers briefly: “Enjoy. We are in a good moment.”

“It is true that every race is different, but right now I have to start enjoying it. That is the most important thing for me. I know that I will suffer at some races.”

“But as I said, step by step it seems that with time, with the races, I find a way to adapt my riding style to what the bike needs. I already feel a little better.”

Since MotoGP returned to Spielberg in 2016, only Ducati and KTM have won races. With ten wins, Ducati is the most successful brand on this track. However, Marquez has only won once: 2025 sprint and Grand Prix.

“Of course, this is a track where Ducati usually works very, very well. Last year I felt very comfortable on this track, but last year I felt comfortable on many tracks.”

“So, let’s see if we can start well from the first free practice this weekend. We try to build up our pace and then perform well in the sprint and the main race.”

Martin: “Hope to keep up with Marc”

Martin won his first MotoGP race as a rookie in Spielberg in 2021. At that time, the Spaniard rode for Pramac-Ducati. The Red Bull Ring is one of the best tracks for the “Martinator.”

He started from pole position three times and besides his win, he secured two more podiums. In addition, there are two more podiums in sprints. However, Aprilia has never won in Spielberg.

“Yes, I will certainly try to do my best,” Martin looks ahead to the upcoming race weekend. “It’s nice. I’m glad that we are tied on points at this stage.”

“For me, it seems crazy, but honestly, those eleven laps alone in the last race, where I was with Marc and could overtake him, were so much fun. I really enjoyed it.”

“Even though I finished fifth in the end, I was able to take some positive things from the weekend. So I hope to find that feeling again. I hope to find that speed again.”

“I hope that my form is good enough to, as I said, stay with him until the end.” The big question is whether Martin will experience arm pump again in Spielberg. If so, he might consider surgery after the race.

Bezzecchi: Championship deficit “not crazy big”

After his crash at the home race in Misano last weekend, Marco Bezzecchi’s championship deficit to Marquez grew to 33 points. Last year, he achieved the best Spielberg result for Aprilia.

Bezzecchi started from pole position and finished third. After the retirement in Misano, he is under pressure to reduce the gap to Marquez and Martin again if he wants to stay in the title fight.

“So, it is a big gap, but not crazy big,” says Bezzecchi. “With the format we have now, the possibility to gain or lose points is somewhat bigger.”

“Of course, Marc is a tough rival. Jorge too. So in the end, it is not easy, but at the moment my goal honestly is to find my consistency again. Before the injury, I had started to fluctuate a bit.”

“Before that, I was super consistent, and then I started making a few too many mistakes. Then came the injury, the comeback went well, but last Sunday I made a mistake.”