Neil Hodgson Column: Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi to challenge champion Marc Marquez but worry for Toprak Razgatlioglu

React to this story

Neil Hodgson predicts in his exclusive TNT Sports column who will be able to challenge Ducati's Marc Marquez for this season's MotoGP world title. The Spaniard is installed as the favourite once again, but Pecco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez could all be potential rivals as we get ready for the season-opening weekend in Thailand, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'If you do that, you'll face plant' - Razgatlioglu's biggest challenge in MotoGP

Video credit: TNT Sports

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

In his first column of the new season, he predicts who will challenge Marc Marquez for the 2026 MotoGP world championship.

**************

Grand Prix Thailand

From minnows to true engineering force: Why Aprilia are ready to test Ducati dominance

01/03/2026 at 13:26

MotoGP is back for another season, and while I think everyone agrees that Marc Marquez is starting the season as favourite after his triumph in the previous campaign, there are a couple of challengers for his crown.

I think after the two test weekends this season, BK8 Gresini rider Alex Marquez, his brother, is his main threat, but it’s not just him.

Pecco Bagnaia, who had an awful time of things last year, definitely looks to have improved, and then Aprilia have made some big leaps forward, so I think that Marco Bezzecchi has thrown his hat into the ring as a real contender, too.

But before the season, it’s hard to look past Alex as the main challenger to his older sibling.

To some extent, those are the obvious answers. Bezzecchi showed flashes of his ability throughout the season. Alex was second overall, so it’s no surprise if he is strong again this season.

As for Bagnaia, he’s a two-time MotoGP world champion so we can never rule out a comeback.

'Such a special thing to be a part of' - TNT pundits reflect on MotoGP 2025 highlights

Video credit: TNT Sports

But beyond that, there’s real depth to the field at this stage of the season, with everyone sitting on a fresh start regardless of what happened in 2025.

You always have to keep an eye on Pedro Acosta. He’s a very special talent, and sometimes it’s like he can walk on water. Nobody can match what he does on that KTM bike.

I think he’ll have a solid season, and it looks like he’ll be signing for Ducati soon. If it happens, that would be an incredible season for both parties. He’ll be one to watch, yet again.

While he’s not a dark horse exactly, one rider who could spring a surprise this season is Jorge Martin.

He struggled with injuries at Aprilia last season. It was a brutal season, one of the worst for anyone in the sport given his injuries.

But if he can put a run together - and he’s a world champion so he knows how to ride - then a burst of confidence could make him a real danger.

At the other end of the grid, I’m not optimistic for Yamaha’s chances, and going by the sound of it, neither is one of their riders, Fabio Quartararo.

2025 world champion Marc Marquez wins MotoGP award

Video credit: TNT Sports

Everybody in the paddock knew that this year was going to be grim for Yamaha. It’s so, so difficult to build a completely new bike, with a different engine and a different firing order.

It changes everything - how the chassis works, how the electronics function, the aero. To find a perfect package isn’t something that just clicks. It’s almost impossible to get it right without the hard yards.

Yamaha aren’t even doing a bad job, it’s just that the rest of the teams have 10 or 15 years more experience, making small tweaks and adjustments along the way.

Yamaha are going to have a bit of a stinker this season, and you don’t want to see that from one of the main manufacturers.

They’ll come good in the end, don’t get me wrong. They have the resources to work out their problems - it just probably won’t happen this season.

Toprak's career already under threat at Yamaha

One unhappy consequence of the problems at Yamaha is that they could even derail Toprak Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP career. He’s almost set up to fail in the situation.

I’m a huge Toprak fan - so are most motorcycle racers. You can see what an incredible talent he is, and it’s a real shame that his first proper tilt at MotoGP is going to be on the worst bike imaginable.

If he’d moved to Ducati, say, he could have jumped on the bike, looked at the data, and worked on his own ride, and I think he’d then be right up there. That’s not possible at Yamaha.

The bike isn’t working, and every time he’s on it, something will have changed as they try to develop it. It keeps changing, so he has no base setting to work with.

Every time he looks, he’s two seconds off the pace, despite trying so hard to get to grips with the machine. It’s demoralising, and it’s going to be a tough rookie season for him.

It’s not unrealistic to say this could harm his career. Some riders are strong enough to take these blows, others aren’t, and we’ll find out if Toprak can over this long, painful year.

To make matters worse, next year there are a slate of new changes, and there’s no guarantee Yamaha will be any better then. It’s like he has to go back to the start this year, and do it all over again in 2027.

How will he adjust? He was the star of World Superbikes, the hero for the last five years. The only man some of us wanted to watch in the competition.

There’s no denying his exceptional talent, but we might not see him. He’ll be 30 this year, and I pray this won’t break him mentally.

Stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Grand Prix Thailand

Beginning of the end? Hodgson on title race after Bezzecchi wins opening race

01/03/2026 at 11:16

Grand Prix Thailand

Marquez penalty decision 'unfair' - Tardozzi

28/02/2026 at 14:41