Surprises after the first three rounds of the 2026 MotoGP season
13 April 2026The 2026 MotoGP season has already provided plenty of drama and thrilling action in Thailand, Brazil, and the United States. But how does what we’ve seen during race weekends compare to what we were expecting?
Here are some of the biggest surprises after the first three rounds:
Aprilia have taken over as the dominant manufacturer
There was no doubt that Aprilia had made a significant step forward in 2025, with the last few rounds showing Marco Bezzecchi to be a likely title challenger for this year. What wasn’t expected, however, was that Aprilia would be the standout manufacturer after the initial rounds of the 2026 season, taking over from Ducati as the manufacturer to beat. Whilst other factors have to be taken into account, such as Marc Marquez’s continued recovery, the performances of all four Aprilia riders so far this season have been undeniable.
Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi leads the Championship after the first three rounds, having taken every Grand Prix victory so far in 2026. Having won the last two Grands Prix of the 2025 season, Bezzecchi has become only the third rider in the modern MotoGP era to win five consecutive Grands Prix, joining Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez. Bezzecchi’s impressive form has also seen him set a new record for the most consecutive Grand Prix laps led in the modern era, at 121, a record that could still be extended. If Bezzecchi wants to maintain his Championship lead though, he’ll need to work on his Sprint performances, as two DNFs out of three Sprints in 2026 has given away crucial points to his rivals.
After a disastrous 2025 season for Jorge Martin, with extensive injuries seeing him miss most race weekends, it was difficult to predict how well Martin would perform in his second year with Aprilia Racing. The Martinator is back though, and is proving that teammate Bezzecchi’s performances aren’t luck, as he sits just four points behind Bezzecchi in the Championship standings, in 2nd. Martin’s first three rounds have seen him achieve two 2nd place finishes in the last two Grands Prix, 3rd place in Brazil’s first ever MotoGP Sprint, and most notably, victory in the Sprint at the Grand Prix of the United States, his first Sprint win since 2024, and his first with Aprilia.
Away from the factory team, Trackhouse MotoGP Team, Aprilia’s satellite team, have also made a strong start to the 2026 MotoGP season. Raul Fernandez achieved a double podium during the season opener in Thailand, and has finished in the top 10 in the two following Grands Prix. On the other side of the garage, Ai Ogura achieved top 5 finishes in the first two Grands Prix of 2026, and was looking set for a podium battle during the Grand Prix of the United States, until a technical issue forced him to retire.
The top Ducati rider isn't a Marquez brother
Despite the shoulder injury he sustained at the Grand Prix of Indonesia in October, Marc Marquez’s dominance throughout most of the 2025 season made him most people’s pick for the 2026 MotoGP World Champion, in his second season with the Ducati Lenovo Team. However, Marc has openly acknowledged that he is currently unable to ride in a way that works for him, and this is reflected in his results. With two Sprint podiums (one victory, and one 2nd place) and no appearances on the Grand Prix podium so far in 2026, Marc Marquez’s title defence has not gotten off to the ideal start, currently residing 5th in the Championship standings, 36 points behind leader Bezzecchi.
Another rider who was viewed as a favourite for the 2026 title was 2025’s runner-up, Alex Marquez. His growth last season impressed many, and saw him being given a factory-spec Ducati for his 2026 season with BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, joining Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, and Fabio Di Giannantonio in running the GP26. Alex then went on to further cement his name as a title contender this season by topping the overall timesheets at the Sepang Test, as well being the fastest rider during the Sprint simulation. The first few rounds of this year’s Championship are looking very different to how Alex Marquez started 2025 though, with consistent 2nd place finishes in all Sprints and Grands Prix for the first three rounds being replaced with a best performance of 4th in the Sprint last time out at the Circuit of the Americas, and he’s yet to achieve a top five finish in a Grand Prix this season.
Ducati’s strongest performer so far in 2026 is instead Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio. Currently 4th in the Championship standings after three rounds, Di Giannantonio has secured two out of three pole positions this year, claiming back-to-back poles for the first time in his MotoGP career, and up to this point is the only Ducati rider to stand on the Grand Prix podium in 2026. In Di Giannantonio’s current form, it’s hard to argue against him being a contender for the title this season.
We still don't have confirmation of where most riders are going in 2027
MotoGP’s silly season began early this year, with strong rumours quickly emerging as riders and teams sought to secure their lineups for the first year of the sport’s new regulations in 2027. These rumours have involved some big potential moves, including three MotoGP World Champions switching manufacturers, but aside from Bezzecchi’s wedding-themed contract renewal announcement with Aprilia, we’re yet to hear more about what the 2027 MotoGP grid will look like.
However, talk from within the paddock indicates that rider deals have indeed been signed, and the lack of announcements is due to ongoing negotiations between the manufacturers and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group for their new agreement, which will come into effect next year. Setting out obligations for all parties, as well as financial terms, we’re unlikely to see any further rider lineup announcements until this agreement has been signed.
The season’s Spring Break continues for two more weeks before MotoGP heads to Jerez at the end of April, and with twenty two rounds on the 2026 calendar, there is still plenty of time for things to change. But if the first three rounds have shown us anything, it’s that MotoGP is far from predictable, and this is a season you don’t want to miss.
