With just 11 rounds completed, the 2026 MotoGP World Championship is shaping up to be one of the closest title battles in the series' history.
Only 24 points separate championship leader Jorge Martin from fifth-placed Fabio di Giannantonio, making it the tightest top-five margin at this stage of the season since MotoGP began in 2002.
While Aprilia's rise has helped break Ducati's recent dominance, Gresini Racing rider Alex Marquez believes the biggest reason behind the fiercely contested championship is the number of mistakes being made by the leading riders.
Marquez said none of the title contenders have managed to maintain consistent performances throughout race weekends, allowing the championship standings to remain unusually close heading into the second half of the season.
"There has been no rider who has been consistently strong every weekend," Marquez explained. "That is why the championship is so close."
Several leading contenders have already suffered costly setbacks this season.
Marco Bezzecchi enjoyed a strong start to the campaign but struggled through June after making a series of errors. Martin, despite leading the standings, endured a difficult Catalan Grand Prix weekend where he crashed five times before later throwing away valuable points in Hungary.
Even six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has not escaped mistakes, crashing out while leading the Spanish Grand Prix after starting from pole position.
Those errors have prevented any rider from building a commanding championship advantage, leaving the title fight wide open as the paddock heads into the summer break.
Alex Marquez believes consistency will ultimately decide the championship and expects riders such as Ai Ogura and Marc Marquez to be among the strongest challengers in the remaining rounds.
Despite his recent setbacks, Martin remains the rider to beat. He continues to lead the standings and has managed to stay in contention even through difficult weekends, underlining why he remains the favourite for the title.
With every point likely to matter, the rider who can minimise mistakes and consistently finish at the front may ultimately emerge as the 2026 MotoGP world champion.
