Marc Marquez took the MotoGP championship lead for the first time by winning the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano. The 27-lap race was shaped in part by Marco Bezzecchi’s crash and arm pump affecting Jorge Martin. Ducati’s general manager Gigi Dall’Igna, however, presented the result as more than a straightforward gain from rivals’ misfortune.

In his LinkedIn debrief, Dall’Igna described Marquez’s ride as the rider’s best version and called him a “special rider”. His assessment focused on race management: Marquez selected the moments to apply pressure, hold position and attack, while avoiding unnecessary exposure. That balance allowed him to control the contest from start to finish rather than turning every phase into an all-out push.

The result was Marquez’s eighth victory at Misano, his fifth of the season and his fifth in the last seven GP races. It was also his fifth Sunday win in the last seven MotoGP rounds. Combined with the preceding event, the weekend gave him back-to-back 37-point hauls. Marquez has recovered a 102-point deficit since the Italian Grand Prix, following his return from surgery for a nerve issue in his right shoulder.

Ducati keeps the championship in perspective

Marquez had already won Saturday’s sprint, completing a clean sweep at Misano. Dall’Igna described it as the rider’s third clean sweep in the last four weekends. The result put Ducati at the top of both the riders’ and constructors’ championships, but the team’s general manager treated that position as a milestone rather than evidence that the title is secure.

Dall’Igna’s praise extended beyond Marquez’s experience. He also highlighted the rider’s continuing desire, ability and humility to learn and improve. For Ducati, the next stage of the 2026 campaign will depend on clear thinking, completing races and continuing to work on circuits that may suit the bike more or less well.

The warning is against assuming that recent momentum settles the championship. Dall’Igna said the season is still far from over and that a competitive field can produce unexpected mistakes. The victories matter, but Ducati sees them as steps in a campaign whose outcome will depend on composure and consistency through the final stages.