Alex Marquez Earns Factory Ducati for 2026 After 2025 Runner-Up

Alex Marquez capped a breakout 2025 MotoGP season as runner-up in the world championship, securing a factory-spec Ducati motorcycle for 2026 despite riding for the independent Gresini Racing team. The 29-year-old Spaniard delivered consistent results on outdated 2024-spec machinery, finishing just 78 points behind his brother Marc Marquez, who claimed the title in a remarkable comeback with the factory Ducati Lenovo Team.

The season, which spanned 22 races across 18 countries on five continents, showcased intense competition with five former world champions on the grid and 10 of 11 teams reaching the podium. Marquez opened the year with three consecutive runner-up finishes in Thailand, Argentina, and the United States, fueling speculation about potential upgrades to his GP24 bike. However, his contract with Gresini barred such improvements, and he shared year-old equipment with teammate Fermin Aldeguer and VR46's Franco Morbidelli. Only a minor adjustment arrived late in the campaign.

Undeterred, Marquez notched his first premier-class victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth round, briefly leading the standings by one point over Marc. He added wins in Barcelona and...