Ducati's 2026 MotoGP campaign has hit an unexpected rough patch, with the Italian powerhouse still searching for its first win after five races. This marks their longest victory drought since the challenging period between 2010 and 2016. While some have pointed to Marc Marquez's shoulder injury as a contributing factor, his brother and Gresini Racing rider, Alex Marquez, firmly rejects that notion.

Instead, Alex credits the stunning early-season form of Aprilia and its star rider, Marco Bezzecchi. "Ducati’s current situation has nothing to do with Marc’s injury," Alex told AS. "Aprilia, another factory, have taken a step forward from Ducati this year and are doing better." Bezzecchi has been in imperious form, winning every race and leading every single lap so far, a feat of dominance that has left the Ducati contingent playing catch-up.

The statistics paint a stark picture. Bezzecchi leads the championship with 81 points, while the highest-placed Ducati rider is Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth with 50 points. Di Giannantonio also holds Ducati's sole Grand Prix podium finish this year, a third place in Brazil. Marc Marquez, despite winning a Sprint race, sits fifth in the standings as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury sustained in a crash last October.

Alex Marquez acknowledged his brother is still regaining full fitness, stating, "He’s not yet one hundred percent. He is still trying to change his style due to an unstable condition." However, he emphasized that the primary challenge is Aprilia's performance, not Ducati's setbacks. The big question now is how long this early-season narrative will hold. As Alex put it, "How long will this last? We don’t know. And until what track? We’ll see." The battle for supremacy is firmly on, and Ducati will be desperate to rediscover its winning form.