The fall
The first GP of the 2026 season was certainly joyless for the team Gresinieven more so for its top driver during the Thai weekend: Alex Marquez. Teammate of the Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, called up by the Faenza team to replace the injured Fermin Aldeguer, the Spaniard’s race ended a few laps from the checkered flag due to a slippedfortunately without any physical consequences.
No points
A disappointing Sunday which ended with a zero in the standings not only for him, but also for his brother Marc, betrayed in this case by the rear tire rim being bent after hitting a curb at full speed. If the reigning world champion still scored points in the Sprintthis was not achieved by the vice-champion alone 11th at the finish line. A start to the championship as disappointing as it was unexpected: “Starting from the third row didn’t help us, but then it was anyway a management contest until the fall – he declared – the others have certainly grown, but we must continue to work while remaining calm. My race was to stay behind Mir at a distance so as not to heat up the front tire too much, with no chance of overtaking. The fall came when I tried to push a little more, I had no feeling with the front and I lost it with a small mistake“.
Always at the back throughout the weekend, Pirro was already sanctioned at the end of qualifying with a three-place penalty for having obstructed Marquez on his fastest lap. Last in the Sprint among the drivers who reached the finish line, the Apulian finished at 19th place in the long race: “I’m a bit disappointed, I thought I’d do better by putting together all the pieces of the puzzle these days. Instead, from the start of the race I immediately felt uncomfortable with the tyres, a feeling I never had during the weekend. I tried to manage the tyre, but it was quite strange. I’m sorry because I wanted a little more consistency. I gave it my all, I thank Nadia and the whole group for their confidence these days.”
