A mix of bad luck and declining performance sees Ducati hit an unwanted record.
It’s been a day — and so far a season — to forget for the Ducati Lenovo Team. After years of dominance in MotoGP, the Borgo Panigale factory squad is now facing a difficult start to 2026.
If recent results had been inconsistent — partly due to tracks and Michelin tyre characteristics not suiting the new Desmosedici GP26 — Jerez was supposed to be the turning point. Instead, it turned into a nightmare.
Marc Marquez crashed on lap 2, while Pecco Bagnaia was forced to retire on lap 13 due to a technical issue, likely a front tyre problem. Two retirements that sealed a historic low for the Italian team.
The negative record
Until now, Ducati’s struggles could be explained by bad luck and Aprilia’s rise. But this weekend confirms a worrying trend: nine consecutive Grands Prix without a podium for the factory team.
A streak that brings Ducati back to one of the darkest periods in its recent history. The previous worst run dates back to 2012–2014, when the team went 24 races without a podium.
The pressure now falls on Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia. One of them will need to return to the podium at Le Mans (May 10) to avoid pushing this negative record into double digits.
Photo: Ducati Corse
