Marc Márquez Officially Out for Season: Focus on 2026 Recovery
Newly-crowned 2025 MotoGP Champion Marc Márquez will officially miss the final two races of the season—the Portuguese Grand Prix and the Valencia Grand Prix—due to his ongoing shoulder injury recovery. Ducati has formally confirmed the decision, stating the focus is on a 100% recovery for the 2026 MotoGP season. This extends the Spaniard’s absence and confirms he will not participate in the crucial Valencia post-season test, a key session for 2026 MotoGP prototype development.
Bulega MotoGP Debut: WorldSBK Star to Replace Márquez
With the factory seat now open, test rider Michele Pirro filled in for Márquez at the Malaysian GP. However, the dominant hot rumor is that WorldSBK Vice-Champion Nicolò Bulega is poised for his MotoGP debut. The Italian rider is expected to be given the opportunity to compete in the final two Grands Prix in Portimão (Portugal) and Valencia. This move would serve as invaluable race preparation for Bulega, who is already officially confirmed as a Ducati MotoGP test rider for 2026. Fans are highly anticipating the Nicolo Bulega MotoGP switch and his potential performance on the Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Championship Fight Focus: The Battle for Second Place (P2)
With Marc Márquez clinching the Riders’ Championship, all eyes are now on the intense fight for second place (P2) in the final standings. The battle is a Ducati vs. Aprilia affair between his younger brother, Álex Márquez (Gresini Ducati, currently P2), and the strong challenger Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing, currently P3). Every session at the upcoming Portugal Grand Prix and Valencia Grand Prix will be crucial in determining the MotoGP 2025 championship runner-up.
Yamaha V4 Engine Development Update
Yamaha continues to push the boundaries of its future design, with test rider Augusto Fernández (riding as a wildcard in Malaysia) heavily involved in the development of the new Yamaha V4 engine prototype. Lead factory rider Fabio Quartararo has publicly emphasized that the true measure of the new 2026 Yamaha M1 will be the official pre-season test in Sepang in February 2026, though the forthcoming Valencia test remains an important benchmark for its progress. The switch to the V4 engine configuration is seen as a pivotal moment for Yamaha Racing’s future.
Jorge Martín Sidelined for Portugal
Aprilia Racing’s Jorge Martín has also been confirmed to miss the upcoming Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit as his recovery from injury continues. The team is expected to provide further updates on his return for the final round in Valencia.
Source
| Information Category | URL/Link | Description |
| Official MotoGP News Hub | https://www.motogp.com/en/news | The primary source for breaking stories, including the official confirmation of Marc Márquez being out and any subsequent Ducati replacement announcements (like Nicolo Bulega). |
| Official 2025 Calendar | https://www.motogp.com/en/calendar | Provides the schedule for the final rounds: Portugal Grand Prix (Portimão) and Valencia Grand Prix, plus the official test dates. |
| Official 2025 Standings | https://www.motogp.com/en/standings | Crucial for tracking the Álex Márquez vs. Marco Bezzecchi fight for 2nd place in the Riders’ Championship. |
| Official Ducati Corse News | https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/news/motogp | The official factory source for the Marc Márquez injury update and the confirmation of the replacement rider (Michele Pirro / Nicolo Bulega). |
| Official Yamaha Racing News | https://www.yamahamotogp.com/news | For updates on the Yamaha V4 engine prototype testing, comments from Fabio Quartararo, and development progress towards the 2026 M1. |
| Portugal GP Circuit Info | https://autodromodoalgarve.com/ | Official website for the Algarve International Circuit (Portimão), host of the upcoming race. |
Our Social Media Handles
- Instagram : LivingWithGravity
- Medium : Akash Dolas
- YouTube Channel : Gear and Shutter
- Facebook : LivingWithGravity
