Move over Pinball wizard’, Thars’ a new Italian
threat on the Hunt!
Ticking over the one quarter mark of the 2026
MotoGP season, I thought I’d finally get round to reviewing the season’s start.
Although just thru Round 5’s French Grand Prix.
Since after all, France becomes the racing
epicenter in June. At some place called Le Mans. With the MotoGP event taking
place upon its Seester’ track…
Although pretty
sure that ‘Ol Ettore Bugatti would be rolling over at my use of Seester’
nomenclature…
Surprisingly, the 2026 MotoGP grid remains
largely unchanged, with the exception of two riders. Being the additions of
Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
22 year old Brazilian Moreira is the reigning Moto2
champion. Replacing Somkiat Chantra at Pro Honda LCR.
29 year old Razgatlioglu. from Turkey, the
reigning three-times Superbike’s champion. Replaces Miguel Oliveira at Prima
Pramac Yamaha MotoGP.
With only three riders being replaced due to
injures to date. As VK8 Gresini Racing’s Fermin Aldeguer broke His leg during
training, and was replaced by Ducati Corse test rider Michele Pirro in
Thailand.
Then at Circuit Of The Americas, (COTA)
Maverick “Top gun” Vinales, also known as Batman withdrew after practice due to
a loose screw in His shoulder.
Uhm, a screw from His previous injury in
Germany last year was inflicting pain and caused Vinales to not race at Austin…
Undergoing further surgery, Vinals had hoped
the extended break in the MotoGP calendar would allow Him to be ready for
Jerez. But the Spaniard wasn’t deemed medically fit for His home race.
Adding insult to injury, substitute rider Pol
Espargaro suffered a hand injury prior to Jerez, leaving the Red Bull Tech 3
KTM squad with just Enea Bastianini competing, before Vinales was replaced by
Jonas Folger for the French Grand Prix.
Yet through the French Grand Prix on the
Bugatti circuit, the rider who’s been fairly untouchable was Aprilia’s Marco
Bezzecchi! As the Italian began the season where He’d left off, scoring His
third MotoGP win in-a-row; following last year’s triumphs at Portimoa and Valencia.
Bezzecchi “Blitzed” the field in Thailand, and
comfortably won ahead of Pedro Acosta by 5.5 seconds. While the Aprilia RS-GP26
is now clearly the Scooter’ to beat! With Aprilia claiming four of the top five
spots. With Bezzecchi’s teammate thee Martinator’, nee Jorge Martin sandwiched
between Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez (third) and Ai Ogura. (fifth)
After passing polesitter Fabio Di Giannantonio
in Brazil, Bezzecchi motored off to His fourth win in-a-row. Only the fifth
rider to do so; behind Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and
Francesco Bagnaia.
Martin finished second, giving the factory
Aprilia squad a 1-2 finish at Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna.
Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) saw Bezzecchi
continuing His domination of MotoGP, claiming a fifth successive victory on the
trot, with Martin runner-up again. While Ogura’s Aprilia “done blown Up!” With
five laps remaining when in third.
“Watching”, Err listening to the Spanish Grand
Prix highlights, the announcers screamed Oh No! Marc Marquez has crashed out
again! As Marquez was chasing His younger brother Alex who was leading. With
Alex snapping Bezzecchi’s win streak with His second win at home in Jerez, the
second year in-a-row.
Also hearing that it was a belated 30th
birthday present to the Spanish rider, with Bezzecchi settling for second.
Yet obviously, the biggest “Star” rider to
suffer another injury was Marc Marquez at Le Mans Bugatti circuit! Crashing
heavily during the Saturday Sprint race, Marquez suffered a broken foot. Then
having surgery for both the foot and His shoulder. Removing two damaged screws
from a previous surgery.
As the reigning MotoGP champion will miss the
next few rounds, albeit no idea how long His recovery will take?
Listening to the highlights of this year’s
French Grand Prix, with no idea Marc Marquez was out. Aprilia made history by
claiming its first ever podium lock-out. With Jorge Martin hunting down Aprilia
teammate Marco Bezzecchi and winning for the first time in 588 days! The
Martinator’s las W’ being at Indonesia in 2024…
Bezzecchi had to settle for second, with
Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura third. Hearing that it was the First “Dry” podium
for a Japanese rider since 2006! And first podium since 2012 “Wet” race.
Shinya Nakano was the
rider at the 2006 Dutch GP. While Katsuyuki Nakasuga was the rider at the 2012 Grand Prix of Valencia. With
both finishing second.
Yet what totally baffled me, was hearing the Announcer
saying thee Martinator and Ogura very well may become Yamaha’s factory lineup
next year, say What?
Apparently the door opens for Martin with Fabio
Quartararo moving to Honda. And reportedly Francesco Pecco’ Bagnaia will take
Martin’s Aprilia seat…
Although I cannot fathom why Martin would wish
to leave Aprilia, since they’re the bike to have. Although I was totally
unaware that next year MotoGP will move to its new 850cc format.
Whilst Martin had tried wriggling out of His
Aprilia contract a year early last season. So who knows, will Jorge once again
take the No. 1 plate to a new manufacturer, a la 2024?
Obviously, not if Marco Bezzecchi has anything to say about it!
