5 storylines to watch while MotoGP is on mid season break
5 storylines to watch while MotoGP is on mid season break
Can Bezzecchi bounce back?
Marco Bezzecchi looked like he had the 2026 championship locked down after the first 3 rounds, finishing on the top step of the podium for each grand prix. However, his results have slowly been fading until the Hungarian Grand Prix where Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin bowled into him and a cavalcade of other riders during turn one of lap one. He also was barred from participating in the Czech Grand Prix for infamously slapping a marshal during Saturday’s sprint race resulting in a race ban for the Sunday Grand Prix. With the season only getting worse as Bezzecchi suffered a high speed crash during the Dutch Grand Prix and breaking his collarbone while qualifying for the German Grand Prix. All eyes are on Rossi’s protege for the return from summer break, and can he regenerate his momentum from Great Britain onwards or will he continue to be caught in the rabble a MotoGP season can produce?
Can Marquez keep his momentum?
On the flip side of Marco Bezzecchi’s deteriorating 1st half of the 2026 season, although equally tumultuous is Marc Marquez. The Spanish rider started his season with a slow steady burn after crashing out of the opening Thai Grand Prix, then a quiet 4th and 5th place in the two successive Grand Prix respectively, before again crashing out of his home race. However, his season came to a head when he broke his foot during the French Grand Prix, where he also announced he was also struggling with a previously injured shoulder and was booked in for a corrective surgery while resting his foot. This proved to be a wise move as Marc returned to the paddock swinging. Warming up with a 7th at the Italian Grand Prix, Marc then went on to win the Hungarian and Czech Grand Prix, and maintains momentum going into the Summer break after dominating the German sprint race and Grand Prix. The question is, can Marc continue his strong form after the break or will his fitness or competitors take advantage for the latter half of the season?
Can Trackhouse Keep Performing?
The surprise breakout for the 2026 season is the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team who have run away with the competitive package the factory team have developed for the Aprilia RS-GP26. With Raul Fernandez racking up three podiums in the first half of the year and Ai Ogura finishing on the podium 4 times, including his maiden victory at the Dutch Grand Prix. They are currently sitting 2nd in the teams championship and have outperformed the factory team in the last 4 races before the summer break. The question is can they continue to maintain or even increase their speed in the later half of the championship?
Will Pedro Acosta get his first win?
Pedro Acosta has to be the most unfortunate rider this season, whose results don’t accurately reflect his performance through the year. Although a fair portion of his results can be tied to the performance and reliability of his KTM RC16. Consistent front runner throughout his career, and has taken many podiums, but his maiden Sunday Grand Prix victory still eludes him. He has led numerous races this season and came extremely close during the Hungarian GP, resulting in a second place. All eyes will be on the young Spaniard to see if he can rise to the top step of the podium for the first time on a Sunday during the rest of the 2026 season.
Ogura champion in his sophomore year?
Ai Ogura has to be the biggest surprise standout this year, with the Japanese rider currently sitting second in the standings. The Trackhouse Aprilia rider has been the quiet achiever throughout the opening races with 5th placings in three of the first 4 Grand Prix, and only DNFing out of the American GP after suffering engine issues while chasing down a podium position. He has since solidified his Championship threat status by finishing either 1st or 2nd in the last three Grand Prix, heading into the summer break with a huge swing in momentum. But the question remains of the sophomore Aprilia rider, can he continue this first class pace or will he fall into the less experienced rider trap of periodic inconsistency?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the top 3 in the standings when the season returns?
The current top 3 in the 2026 MotoGP Standings are Aprilia Factory rider Jorge Martin, Aprilia Satellite rider Ai Ogura and Ducati Factory rider Marc Marquez respectively. However, there are a couple curveball riders that could affect this throughout the later half of the season. With Jorge Martin’s factory teammate Marco Bezzecchi currently going through a rough patch, but if he can gain momentum, he is still a major threat for the championship. The same could be said for VR46 Satellite Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, who has had been extremely consistent the whole season, snapping at the heels of the pointy end of the standings at nearly every Grand Prix and even winning the Catalan Grand Prix, he’s definitely one to keep an eye on!
Who is our favourite to win the Australian Grand Prix?
Based on previous Phillip Island performances and results, the most likely winner is Marc Marquez. However with the strength of Aprilia and as Ai Ogura swings into form, watch out for the Japanese rider and the two factory riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
Which manufacturer is looking best for the new 850cc regulations?
Like any good straight forward answer, it depends. If you want to base performance off trajectory, it’s looking like Aprilia or Ducati will be starting strong in the 850cc era. But both Honda and Specifically Yamaha have been pouring resources and development into their 850cc era bikes. Although similar to Aston Martin in Formula 1, these resources may be pointed in the wrong direction.