The favourite is already on the move. Ducati presented its official team in Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, with the duo of Marc Marquez and Peko Banjaja. It is a special year for the brand from Borgo Panigale, which celebrates its 100th anniversary. It could be just as special for Marquez, who appears to be the man to beat in pursuit of a tenth world title, his eighth in MotoGP. After an introductory video, Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO, gave a welcoming speech highlighting the key points.
"This is the beginning of a new journey. For us it is almost a tradition to start the season in Madonna di Campiglio. We will explain why we believe it will be another important year for Ducati. Today, in 2026, Ducati is a unique company in the world, with technology, design and an extraordinary heritage in the world of two wheels. This is the hundredth year of our history. 100 years is a long time, but we have filled them with great models, also in Moto GP. For this reason we have chosen a new color: the red of the 100th anniversary, like in the '60s", said Domenicali, who also praised Audi's entry into Formula 1:
"We are the only group that competes in the two biggest competitions. This allows us to transfer technology to road models. We can't promise podiums there, but it will be a journey towards success."
"HISTORICAL" MOTIVES
Peko Banjaja and Mark Marquez presented the bikes, red of course, but with white details that give it a retro touch. “It’s the best bike I’ve ridden since I came in 2021. The combination of red and white is great,” said Banjaja. Meanwhile, Marquez said: “I feel better, I worked hard over the winter to be ready for Thailand. I’m now riding different bikes and everything is going well. A fast bike is always a nice bike. We’ll see in pre-season. It’s a nice way to celebrate 100 years.”
Banja also spoke about the rivalry with his teammate: "I was able to reflect and I will try to be close to him. I want to be prepared from the beginning of the season. Last year I won a lot of races, but not the title. Then I encountered difficulties and it was difficult to find the causes, especially the feeling with the engine. But I think the calm of this winter has helped us learn". Marquez further added: "It's like 'déjà vu', but this year is different. I feel calmer. Last year I had 'butterflies in my stomach', now I can't wait for the start of the season. I always try to minimize physical risks, so I won't ski. Passion is the key. I have a lot of passion for racing, it's my biggest fuel. 2025 gave me even more motivation to work during the winter, after a long recovery, with the only desire to enjoy victories again", concluded the reigning world champion.
