Marc Marquez certain that Pedro Acosta is a genuine threat to Ducati in 2026

Speaking at the pre-event press conference in Goiania, Marquez faced questions about Ducati’s rough start to the season and their plans for a comeback in Brazil.

“We’ll see. We’ll try to score points and keep improving,” said Marquez, speaking to Marca. “It’s true that they’re bringing back the Thai and Austrian fairings, which usually work quite well for us, but we’ll also have to understand how we adapt. And it’s not just about the bike but also about the riding, where Bezzecchi and Acosta are at a very high level.”

Ducati didn’t feature on either podium in Thailand or Qatar, while Aprilia enjoyed a clean sweep of pole positions, wins, fastest laps and 100-point hauls from those two rounds.

Asked if he was worried that Aprilia could run away with things early on like his own title charge did last season with Ducati, Marquez added: “It’s real.

“Look, hopefully we’ll get much closer, but Bezzecchi and Acosta’s level is real because if you look at the last six races of last year, Bezzecchi and Acosta were on the podium in almost all of them.

“So their level is real – it’s not a case of ‘they’ll catch up eventually,’ no. They are two fantastic riders who work very well with their bikes.

“And we have to work to be as close as possible and try to beat them.”

Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia could gain an advantage if Ducati sticks with high aero fairings

Ducati’s decision to run their high downforce aero fairings again, which they also used in Thailand, might raise some concerns among fans, especially after how things played out in the opener.

Aprilia appears to have a clear edge aerodynamically this season. Neil Hodgson has pointed out how their engineers have managed to turn what was once a weakness—particularly at stop-and-go circuits—into one of their strengths.

Ducati was spotted working on an aero update during private testing between rounds one and two, suggesting they’re well aware of where they need to catch up to Aprilia.

How the weekend unfolds remains uncertain. Even before bikes hit the track in Brazil, there’s already talk that Bezzecchi could be set for another strong showing.