MOTOGP HEADS TO JEREZ FOR FIRST EUROPEAN RACE OF THE SEASON
Jerez is the first European race of the MotoGP season, and the track is similar to most others on the calendar. If a rider is fast here, they’re usually fast everywhere.
Earlier races in places like Thailand, Brazil, and Austin are very different. They have extreme heat, long straights, or unusual conditions, so results there don’t always reflect true performance.
Jerez is a tighter, more technical track that teams know very well. It has a mix of corners, big braking zones, and famous spots for overtaking. It’s also known for its passionate fans and great atmosphere.
This season is still early, with many races left, so the championship is wide open. However, outside factors like rising fuel costs could affect travel and future races.
Looking at the teams, Aprilia is very strong right now, with riders like Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín performing well. Ducati is still a big threat, especially at Jerez, where they’ve won in recent years. Marc Márquez’s fitness is a key question after his injury.
KTM could do well thanks to improvements that suit this track, and Pedro Acosta might even fight for a win. Meanwhile, Honda and Yamaha are still struggling to return to the top.
Three things to watch out for at Jerez
MotoGP returns as the European leg of the season begins at Jerez in Spain this weekend. Here are three things to watch out for:
1. Aprilia’s recent domination
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi has set a new MotoGP record by winning the last five races, leading every lap in the process. However, Bezzecchi has struggled in the sprint races, crashing in two of the three so far.
If he wants to keep his grip on the top of the standings, he needs to perform on Saturday as well as Sunday. Teammate Jorge Martín and the Trackhouse duo of Ai Ogura and Raúl Fernández will all be aiming for podium finishes this weekend. With Ogura recently linked to Yamaha, Fernández will be eager to outperform the Japanese rider and prove himself as the team’s future leader.
2. Can Ducati find race-winning pace?
After a mediocre start to 2026, reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez is yet to score a Sunday podium and will be aiming to take the fight to Aprilia.
VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio is currently the top Ducati rider in the standings in P4 and will be looking to continue impressing as he pushes to secure a seat on the 2027 grid, with interest from several teams including VR46, Tech3, and Trackhouse Racing.
Two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia and last season’s runner-up Álex Márquez will both need a return to the podium to stay in the title fight. Bagnaia, in particular, has looked off the pace compared to his teammate, with a best result of P9 so far this season.
3. MotoGP’s impressive rookies
So far in their short MotoGP careers, both LCR’s Diogo Moreira and Pramac Racing’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu have shown flashes of strong potential and will be hoping to build on their promising starts.
Brazilian rookie Moreira has secured three P13 finishes to begin his debut season and will be aiming to break into the top 10 in the coming rounds. He also impressed at Jerez last year with a P4 finish in Moto2 while riding for Italtrans.
Meanwhile, Toprak will be looking to continue his solid performances against his Yamaha stablemates, Jack Miller and Álex Rins.
Overall, there is a lot to look forward to as MotoGP returns, in what is shaping up to be a fascinating season. However, Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider Maverick Viñales will miss the weekend as he continues to recover from recent shoulder surgery.
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