Neil Hodgson Column: Marc Marquez downplays chances but he's favourite at Grand Prix Spain as Marco Bezzecchi feels the pressure

React to this story

Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi renew hostilities this weekend at Grand Prix Spain, and Neil Hodgson believes Francesco Bagnaia, Pedro Acosta and Jorge Martin all have a chance too.

'He got away with that' - Martin avoids serious accident in the gravel at Grand Prix Spain

Video credit: TNT Sports

Neil Hodgson is providing expert insight to TNT Sports throughout the MotoGP season.

In his latest column, he shares his thoughts on Grand Prix Spain.

Grand Prix Great Britain

MotoGP Grand Prix Great Britain: Start times, schedule, how to watch and live stream

Yesterday at 12:50

Marc Marquez has been circumspect over his chances of clawing the Aprilias back this weekend, but I am not sure there’s a real problem.

I suspect that he’s playing down his chances. He’s an experienced rider, so in his mind, he might see no reason to put himself under any more pressure than he already is.

Before the real action gets underway, he’s saying to us that the Aprilia is clearly the best bike, the Ducati team has work to do, and they can just try to improve throughout the weekend. He’s just playing the game.

When the racing starts, he’s going to come out firing on all cylinders and will look to stamp his authority on the race as soon as possible. More than that, he’ll want to take control of the championship.

On the other hand, we’ve seen both Pecco Bagnaia and BK8 Gresini’s Alex Marquez saying similar things about their chances.

But I think that reflects something else - which is that Aprilia made some huge strides forward in the winter. Right now, you would have to say that Aprilia is putting the best bike on the track.

'He's just pulling ugly shapes' - Struggling Bagnaia enters the gravel at Grand Prix Spain

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Ducatis led the way for the last eight years perhaps, and definitely the last five. With the way concessions have worked, with more tyres and more testing, it’s done what it was meant to.

Having said that, there is an important testing session coming up. It makes for a very interesting round. I think everyone is going to see what happened in the break, and we will find out where Ducati and Aprilia are at the moment.

The break we just had has given teams the chance to reassess and potentially make tweaks, but I believe that the most important factor is that Marc has had more chance to build up his fitness.

He had that big crash on the Friday at Austin, and this weekend he has already been showing off the huge wound on his wrist.

The thing with him is, he will never show weakness, but now he can proudly display just how bad it was.

I believe the rest and recovery will be a huge benefit for the champion. He can work on his fitness, and get back to where he wants after last year’s shoulder injury.

Highlights: Martin wins Grand Prix United States Sprint amid chaotic scenes

Video credit: TNT Sports

This season could define Bezzecchi's career

The season’s leader so far, Marco Bezzecchi, is now entering a new stage of his career, and it could be a defining one.

This is a test of character. It’s one thing winning races, one thing leading a championship, but it’s another matter entirely to win a MotoGP world championship.

That’s not easy at all, but it’s another calibre of challenge when you’re up against Marc Marquez. We will find out what Bezzecchi is made of - and so will he.

All these factors are coming together to make this the round of the championship so far. This is the one, and everybody knows that.

What I mean by that is that if Marc wins this weekend, and especially if he does the double, is that we will all think things are back to normal. Marc’s back to full fitness. The 2026 Ducati is good enough. That would be a huge psychological blow to his challengers.

That puts the onus on Bezzecchi. He may now realise that this is an early crunch point of the season.

He will not want to let go of the lead at the top of the standings, so he could take more risks to hold off a challenge and put down a marker.

With all that said, I think that means we can’t look too far beyond Bezzecchi and Marquez to win here this weekend.

I also think that Jorge Martin could have a say in this. He looks strong again, and he’s building up his confidence on the Aprilia. Second in the championship, and he’s the surprise package of the season. Pedro Acosta, too, is lurking.

Highlights: Bezzecchi triumphs at Grand Prix United States as Marquez struggles after penalty

Video credit: TNT Sports

Aprilia will favour Bezzecchi over Martin at crunch time

Right now, for Aprilia, this is a nice problem to have. Martin was their No. 1 last season, but injury and the contract spat won’t have helped, and the fact he’s leaving at the end of the season means that Martin’s place as senior rider has come unstuck.

Bezzecchi is No. 1, and Martin missed testing, so the bike and team are now set up for the Italian.

They won’t be hindering Martin, not at all, but if we get to the end of the season, and it’s tight between those two, Aprilia is not going to give up that No. 1 plate and see it ride off to another manufacturer.

It sounds unlikely after everything that happens, but we can’t forget that Bagnaia has traditionally excelled here.

Yes, it’s another disappointing start to the season for the former world champion, but he knows what it takes to succeed around here.

By the same token, if he underwhelms here, it could be painful for Pecco. He’s had the break after Austin, to have relief and to motivate himself.

Highlights: Bezzecchi makes it four in a row as Marquez slips to fourth in Brazil

Video credit: TNT Sports

He might have seen a sports psychologist - many riders will have. He could be back this weekend, telling himself he’s back to his old self. If results tell him otherwise, and he misses the podium or the top five, then things can run away from him quickly.

Races come thick and fast now. In a blink, it could be November and you’ve missed your chance.

Jerez has given us so many classic races

It’s fantastic to be here at Jerez. It’s a superb track, and we’ve been coming here for four decades or so.

What’s good about it is there are two or three really good pinch points. Turn 2, Turn 6 and the last corner, they’re all hairpin corners, and they’re all places you can force a move. It’s always tight, and sometimes there’s contact.

The racing here has produced some classics over the years, some outstanding memories. When you think of Jerez, you think of motorcycle racing.

It’s one of those very special tracks we go to. Usually a sell-out, and the atmosphere is great. Old school. Ticks all the boxes, and should do again.

Rins exit shows how ruthless MotoGP can be

Alex Rins is going to leave when the season is done. For Ai Ogura, it’s a sensible move. Yamaha might be struggling right now, but it’s rarely the wrong switch to make, from a satellite team to any factory outfit.

For Alex, I think it’s a fair decision from Yamaha. It hurts, but he’s had an incredible career and made a lot of money. I’m a big fan of his, but the timing feels right for someone else to come in.

He is one of the few riders to have a world championship, with his in Moto3. He is a relatively young man, and he can stay in the sport, I’m sure, if a World Superbikes ride comes up.

I don’t think he can feel hard done by. You can’t stay in MotoGP forever, and everyone’s time comes up at some point.

What it does remind us of is the precariousness of the career, even if it’s well-compensated. It’s a horrible feeling getting to the last year of the contract, or just getting a one-year deal.

If your manager is yet to get you a ride, it just puts more and more pressure on each race. You know a mistake or an average result isn’t costing you just right now, but for next year too.

I hated it, hated being out of contract. Two years is what you always want, so you can show your best for at least one season with the pressure off.

Some riders, of course, only turn it on when they’re riding for the future, so it’s a double-edged sword for everyone involved.

Stream every race of the 2026 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and HBO Max

Grand Prix Great Britain

Marquez complains 'you are even slower' unless you ride 'robot style'

27/07/2026 at 11:06

Motorcycling

Friday is the day for my mistakes now, says title-chasing superstar Marquez

16/07/2026 at 19:07