- Marc Márquez begins 2026 chasing history — but once again fighting back from injury.
- Toprak Razgatlıoğlu joins MotoGP, Brazil returns to the calendar, and nearly the entire grid heads into a contract year.
- With sweeping 2027 regulation changes looming, 2026 could become one of the most strategically important seasons in modern MotoGP history.
Six titles, six seasons of pain, and one of the greatest comebacks in modern motorsport. Marc Márquez reclaimed his throne in 2025 — and now faces another fight just to defend it. With Toprak Razgatlıoğlu arriving, Brazil back on the calendar and a 2027 rule revolution looming, MotoGP’s 2026 season may shape the sport’s next decade.
Words & pics: Michael Wincott
The end of 2025 belonged to one man.
After six frustrating seasons defined by injury, recovery, and relentless doubt, Marc Márquez completed one of the greatest comebacks in modern motorsport, storming back to the top of the MotoGP World Championship. Dominant, ruthless, and unmistakably back to his best, the Spaniard sealed the title with five rounds still remaining — an astonishing achievement made even more remarkable after missing races at the end of the season.
But MotoGP rarely allows a champion to rest.
As the 2026 season approaches, Márquez once again finds himself fighting back from injury following a broken collarbone and ligament damage sustained in a heavy crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix. Now 32 years old, the question facing the paddock is simple: can he do it again? Another title would move him beyond Valentino Rossi in premier-class championships — a statistic once thought untouchable.
Photo by Michael Wincott Photography
The Márquez Dynasty: A Brotherly Title Fight
The 2025 season will forever be remembered as the season of the Márquez family. For the first time in premier-class history, siblings finished first and second in the championship standings, with Alex Márquez delivering the most consistent campaign of his career. The younger Márquez proved he is no longer simply chasing his brother’s shadow. Regular podium finishes turned him into a genuine title contender — and in 2026, many believe the balance of power could shift. If Alex wants the crown, however, one challenge remains: finishing ahead of Marc when it matters most.
A 22-Round Global Stage — And Brazil Returns
MotoGP’s 2026 campaign spans 22 rounds across five continents, underlining the sport’s continued global growth. One of the biggest talking points is the return of Brazil, with racing heading back to Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia for the first time since 1989.
Calendar reshuffles will also see Catalunya move later in the year, while fans will witness something completely new — the debut of the Harley-Davidson International Bagger Series as a support class, adding a very different flavour to Grand Prix weekends.
Photo by Michael Wincott Photography
The Transfer Freeze Before the 2027 Storm
With sweeping regulation changes arriving in 2027, the rider market has entered a temporary holding pattern. Almost the entire grid will be out of contract at the end of 2026, setting the stage for an explosive transfer season.
Several familiar names have already departed. Miguel Oliveira and Somkiat Chantra move to WorldSBK, while three-time World Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu makes a headline-grabbing switch to MotoGP with the Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team, becoming the first Turkish rider in the premier class. Victory expectations remain unrealistic, but regular top-ten finishes — and perhaps a late-season podium — could quickly establish him as a championship disruptor.
Moto2 champion Diogo Moreira steps into MotoGP with LCR Honda alongside veteran Johann Zarco, marking Brazil’s return to the grid for the first time since Alex Barros raced in 2007.
Acosta’s Moment — And The Riders Still Hunting Glory
Meanwhile, several riders still chase a maiden MotoGP victory. Among them are rising talents Ai Ogura, Luca Marini, and perhaps the most scrutinised of all — Pedro Acosta. After flashes of brilliance in 2025, this is widely viewed as the season Acosta must convert potential into wins.
Photo by Michael Wincott Photography
Tech3’s Reinvention & Aprilia’s Two Stories
The French Tech3 Team enters a new chapter with Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales taking over proven RC16 machinery. The team’s direction has shifted dramatically under new management led by former F1 figure Guenther Steiner, whose no-nonsense leadership is expected to push performance standards higher. Viñales, searching for consistency, has turned to three-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo as coach and advisor — a partnership that could redefine his career trajectory.
Aprilia’s garage tells two contrasting stories. After a nightmare injury-hit campaign, Jorge Martín looks to rebuild, while teammate Marco Bezzecchi carries strong momentum following an impressive 2025 and a newly secured long-term contract.
Elsewhere, young star Fermín Aldeguer arrives as one of the sport’s hottest prospects after claiming a sensational maiden win last season. Injury delays his start to 2026, but expectations remain sky-high once he returns.
Photo by Michael Wincott Photography
Honda Rising, Yamaha Rolling the Dice
Honda’s resurgence gathered pace late last year, and strong winter testing suggests victories are once again realistic targets. Yamaha, meanwhile, has taken a bold technical gamble by switching to a V4 engine configuration — a move aimed at restoring competitiveness, though rumours swirl about the future of their leading rider.
Photo by Michael Wincott Photography
2027: The Revolution Waiting in the Wings
Beyond the immediate championship fight lies a revolution. The 2027 regulations promise smaller engines, the removal of ride-height devices, reduced aerodynamics, fewer engines per rider, and a full transition to sustainable fuel.
With contracts expiring and a technical reset looming, the 2026 season may become one of the most strategically important in MotoGP history.
A Season That Could Define The Next Era
Strip it all back and 2026 feels like a pressure cooker. Márquez is chasing history while managing a body that’s taken more punishment than most. Acosta has to convert hype into wins. Razgatlıoğlu has to prove Superbike success translates. And every team knows the real reset comes in 2027.
That makes this season dangerous — and fascinating. Because when riders know the rules are about to change, they stop playing long games. They take risks. They chase results.
The lights are about to go out — and this one feels like it could get messy in all the right ways.
