MotoGP Dutch GP
Marc Marquez feeling “uncomfortable and inconsistent” after Dutch GP sprint: “I cannot do more”
Marc Marquez denies being frustrated despite finishing 3.5s off the podium in Assen sprint
Rachit Thukral Germán Garcia Casanova
Edited: Jun 27, 2026, 6:15 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images
Marc Marquez says he is unable to bring his A-game to Assen, saying sixth place is the best he can hope for in the Dutch Grand Prix after a lacklustre showing in the sprint.
The factory Ducati rider finished Saturday’s half-distance race seventh on the road, losing out not only to the four Aprilias but also to other GP26 bikes of Fabio di Giannantonio and Francesco Bagnaia.
He was elevated to sixth in the final reckoning after Bagnaia was docked a place for going off track on the final lap, but Marquez had clearly appeared to be slower of the two in their mid-race battle.
The nine-time world champion had already downplayed his prospects of repeating his victories from Balaton Park and Brno, admitting on Friday that Assen would be a race of "survival" for him.
Read Also:
Speaking after the sprint, the 33-year-old said he is riding in safe mode this weekend, as he explained why he is struggling at Assen.
“Yesterday, I was there and today in the morning, we tried to do a step but we were again around seventh/eighth positions together with some KTMs, and I finished seventh [before Bagnaia’s penalty],” he said.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images
“I'm in safe mode. At this circuit, you need to feel and I don't feel that I can push much more. I'm riding not bad but at some points I'm losing too much and I feel especially uncomfortable and inconsistent.
“It is a circuit where the maximum force is used, especially in the direction changes. I feel good in the straight braking, but there are many direction changes without gas.
“With gas, you can accompany yourself with the engine. By inertia, by skidding with the rear and this, you can make your life easier. But when they are direction changes without gas, and above all from left to right curve, I suffer a lot. At the moment, I am not able to do it.
“Especially because I come from the left, I jump to the right to brake, and the body goes forward. And when I went instinctively on Friday morning, I fell. Because I came from a left, I jumped in the right braking, I went forward and I fell.
“I already checked last year and I saw some crashes this year. Here, the gravel is painful so you need to take care.”
Marquez said he was not unhappy with his performance on Saturday, having already expected to struggle during the weekend.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images
The Spaniard said he expects there will be difficult races during the 2026 season and is prepared to accept lower-scoring results at certain tracks.
“I'm doing my 100% but I cannot do more now. In this circuit, we need to understand that and there is no frustration because it's what I expected,” he explained.
“There will be some circuits that I can manage well. There will be some circuits that in the past or last year, I was able to survive well. This year, survive really means survive. Finish eighth, 10th or even more.”
Asked about Ducati’s rival Aprilia locking out the top four spots on the grid and finishing first and second in the sprint, Marquez added: “We already know the strong points of Aprilia.
“We know that a circuit like Holland will be another circuit with fast corners where they are stronger than us. We need to evaluate 22 races but here Aprilia is stronger than us.
But Diggia [Fabio di Giannantonio] and Pecco did an incredible job because they are riding in a very good way.”
Read Also:
MotoGP“Who’s to say it won’t happen again?” - Pedro Acosta frustrations deepen after latest KTM tech dramas
MotoGPWhy factory Aprilia team lost to satellite Trackhouse outfit in Assen MotoGP sprint
Photos from Dutch GP - Saturday
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
Dutch GP - Saturday, in photos
MotoGP
48
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article “Who’s to say it won’t happen again?” - Pedro Acosta frustrations deepen after latest KTM tech dramas
Next article MotoGP Dutch GP: Full starting grid
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
Toyota: BMW has advantage in Barcelona WEC after private test
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
23 h
Toyota: BMW has advantage in Barcelona WEC after private test
Aprilia considering manufacturer orders as MotoGP title fight intensifies
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Aprilia considering manufacturer orders as MotoGP title fight intensifies
More from
Marc Marquez
Ducati rubbishes claim 2026 MotoGP bike built specifically for Marc Marquez
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
23 h
Ducati rubbishes claim 2026 MotoGP bike built specifically for Marc Marquez
MotoGP riders oppose fines for missing fan events
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
MotoGP riders oppose fines for missing fan events
More from
Ducati Team
Marc Marquez: Indonesian GP results a “dream” at my “worst circuit”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Marc Marquez: Indonesian GP results a “dream” at my “worst circuit”
MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events
Latest news
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
WRC
WRC WRC 46 min
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Pedro Acosta proposes new idea for monitoring tyre pressure in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 2 h
Pedro Acosta proposes new idea for monitoring tyre pressure in MotoGP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe