Sylvain Guintoli feels Ducati’s 2026 season could hinge on how they perform at Jerez this weekend, warning that another loss to Aprilia might be a step too far.
Even though they claimed the 2025 constructors’ title, Ducati haven’t looked like champions so far this year, especially when compared to how strong Aprilia have been out of the blocks.
Aprilia haven’t just started well — they’ve taken control early on. They’ve won every race and posted one-two finishes in two of the three rounds so far. In race conditions, Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia have had trouble matching the pace set by Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
Ducati have a strong recent record at Jerez, but dropping this one wouldn’t just hit their confidence; it could seriously affect their campaign outlook for 2026.
Aprilia’s top speed advantage has played into their hands too. Even when it looks like Marquez or Bagnaia are close in practice, that hasn’t really translated into actual race pace over distance.
Ducati know what’s at stake here. Dropping points at Jerez would not only hurt morale but could also put them further behind in a title race that already feels like it’s slipping away from them. Aprilia aren’t showing any signs of slowing down, and Ducati need to find an answer fast if they want to stay relevant this season.
Sylvain Guintoli, speaking on the Gas it Out podcast, weighed in on the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix and the ongoing rivalry between Aprilia and Ducati.
Aprilia have been in outstanding form so far this season, a level few would have predicted just 12 months ago. However, Ducati need to find a way to push back at Jerez if they want to get their campaign back on track.
“Aprilia, though, you can’t really compare them to last season. Especially the start of last season. They’ve made so much in rows during the second part of last year and during the winter.
“It’s a completely different package now. I think the battle is definitely on. Martin is going to be super strong as well, because he’s still progressing and recovering.
“We’ve got a massive battle on our hands. If Aprilia manage to win in Jerez, Ducati are going to be in massive trouble for the rest of the season.”
On the same podcast, Guintoli spoke about how Aprilia have performed even better than most people expected this season.
He also pointed out that Ducati are now under real pressure, not just because of their past results at Jerez, but because they still haven’t managed to get the better of Aprilia this year.
“It matters so much because Aprilia have dominated so much at the start of the season. We’ve been running out of excuses.
“We thought the first two in Thailand and Brazil with the treated tyre, ‘Right, okay, they can use that better. They’ve got more side grip, and this is the difference.’
“We then go to Austin, the standard rear tyre, and they still destroy everybody. Now, going back to Jerez, it is that reference. It’s Ducati’s back garden. They’ve been winning the last five years, dominating.
“Marc Marquez is super quick there as well. He’s had another three weeks to recover from his shoulder. Everything is on the line there. Maximum pressure for them.”
This will also be Marc Marquez’s first time in 2026 where he should feel fully fit again after dealing with shoulder issues during the opening three rounds.
If his recovery has gone well during the break, Marquez could look much more like himself and begin closing what’s already become a sizable gap to Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
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