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Alex Marquez sees the upcoming factory-specification Ducati for Gresini Racing in the 2026 MotoGP season as a rightful acknowledgment of the team's impressive performance and consistent success, especially considering the constraints they have operated under. He asserts that the independent team, which has achieved significant milestones including ten Grand Prix victories with Ducati, has often been underestimated and not fully appreciated within the racing community.

The announcement last week confirmed that Ducati will increase its allocation of factory bikes to four for the 2026 season. This expansion means both Gresini and VR46 will each receive a latest-specification machine, alongside the two reserved for the primary factory team. For Gresini, this marks a historic moment, as it will be their first factory-spec bike since they transitioned into an independent entity in 2022 after concluding their partnership with Aprilia.

Over the past four years, Gresini has distinguished itself as the most truly independent among Ducati’s satellite outfits, managing its operations with minimal direct assistance from Borgo Panigale. Despite this leaner setup, the team has celebrated remarkable triumphs. Alex Marquez's victory at the Catalan Grand Prix was a significant highlight, marking their tenth win since aligning with Ducati.

Marquez, who is slated to ride the same GP26 specification next year as part of his new contract, emphasized that the recognition is primarily for the team, established by the late Fausto Gresini. He believes their consistent ability to perform at a high level with fewer resources than some of their rivals is commendable.

When Pramac's departure from Ducati after two decades was confirmed in June 2024, it was Valentino Rossi's VR46 squad that initially benefited, securing the third and final GP25 for the 2025 season. Consequently, Gresini was the only Ducati team on the current grid without factory-level equipment.

However, the landscape will shift dramatically for 2026. While VR46's standing within Ducati remains unchanged, Gresini's status will be elevated, with Alex Marquez set to receive the same advanced machinery as Fabio di Giannantonio and factory riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia.

The younger Marquez acknowledged that this upgrade comes with increased responsibility for Gresini. Nevertheless, he expressed excitement about competing on a more level playing field with the formidable factory team. He anticipates that having factory equipment will significantly alter their approach, particularly concerning testing and development during race weekends. While the focus will remain on performance, the opportunity to experiment with new components will be crucial for continuous improvement and maintaining a competitive edge.

Marc Marquez is on the cusp of an extraordinary comeback, poised to capture his ninth world title in MotoGP. This achievement would mark the culmination of a challenging period defined by severe injuries and a shift in his racing philosophy. His journey from contemplating early retirement to securing a coveted factory Ducati seat underscores a narrative of resilience and strategic evolution.

Marquez's Path to Redemption: A Race Against Adversity and Time

Marc Marquez, a titan in the world of MotoGP, stands at the precipice of securing his ninth world championship, a feat that would dramatically 'close the circle' on a career profoundly impacted by adversity. His journey to this pivotal moment has been anything but conventional, marked by a near-career-ending crash at the outset of the 2020 season in Jerez. This incident necessitated four complex surgeries over subsequent years, forcing Marquez to confront the very real possibility of an early departure from the sport he dominated.

Yet, the Spanish maestro demonstrated unwavering resolve. He navigated through what he describes as the most challenging phase of his professional life, making a strategic and daring move in 2024 by terminating a lucrative contract with Honda to join a satellite team. This bold decision paid dividends, as his exceptional performance and renewed competitive spirit caught the eye of Ducati, earning him a factory seat for the current season.

As the MotoGP circuit now turns its attention to the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, Marquez is widely expected to seal his ninth world title, his seventh in the premier class. He openly acknowledges the lost years due to his arm injury, framing his current resurgence as the "greatest comeback in sporting history." Reflecting on this arduous period, Marquez shared, "These last five years have been super difficult, where some people – even me – thought that maybe I lost two or three years of my career as a rider because I was more at home than here with all of you at the circuits. But it's true that in my personal life I learned a lot of things, and the personal life is much longer than a professional life. So I like this."

Known for his aggressive riding style in the 2010s, which earned him six titles and propelled him past legends like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Dani Pedrosa, Marquez's past was also characterized by frequent crashes. A striking example was his attempt to return to racing just days after his initial Jerez crash, an effort quickly abandoned due to intense pain. However, this extended period of injury and recovery instilled in him a profound sense of maturity. He has since adopted a more measured approach, prioritizing risk minimization and a deep understanding of his body's limitations. "Minimise the risk, [risk] is not necessary in personal and professional life. I'm a guy who likes to find adrenaline everywhere, but minimise that risk. Of course, respect your body, this will be the target number one. I respect the injury, but then the second thing will be minimise the risk," Marquez explained.

Adding a new dimension to his potential victory, Dorna, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP, has begun a push to highlight premier class achievements over those in lower categories. Consequently, if Marquez outperforms his brother Alex Marquez by three points at the Japanese Grand Prix, he will be celebrated as a seven-time MotoGP title winner, rather than a nine-time world champion. Marquez remains philosophical about this change, stating, "It's not in my hands. I always say, when I will retire someday, it doesn't matter. Of course, the numbers matter a lot, but the most important [thing] is that the people remember me as I give everything on track. For example, the value of this championship inside of me is more than another one, but in the end, the number is the same one. But with the atmosphere and all what happened, the career of a rider is different, so in the end, numbers are numbers. They are not in my hands, but the most important [thing] is to increase those numbers. It doesn't matter how." This perspective underscores a champion's focus not just on accolades, but on the enduring impact of his dedication and performance.

The journey of Marc Marquez serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity for recovery and adaptation. His story transcends the realm of motorsport, offering a universal message about confronting setbacks with resilience, evolving one's approach, and ultimately, finding renewed purpose. It reminds us that true victory often lies not just in the destination, but in the courage displayed throughout the challenging path.