The 2026 MotoGP season is underway, and there is set to be a fantastic race for the Drivers’ World Championship this year.
In 2025, Marc Marquez absolutely dominated the field en route to a seventh premier class title and ninth overall, as he won the Championship with five races to spare. But he is set to have much stiffer competition this time around, with several contenders stepping up to the plate.
We’ll look ahead to the season and provide you with our best free MotoGP betting picks, as we look to earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the action on the track.
| MotoGP Drivers' Championship 2026 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marc Marquez | -200 | -200 | -200 |
| Marco Bezzecchi | +200 | +185 | +175 |
| Pedro Acosta | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Alex Marquez | +1500 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Jorge Martin | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Francesco Bagnaia | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
Check out the best MotoGP betting sites here.
Below you’ll find a list of the favorites to win the MotoGP Drivers’ Championship this season.
The reigning champion stepped into this season as the rightful favorite to defend his crown, after such a sensational campaign last time out.
Marquez finished on the podium in all but three of his races in the 2025 season, retiring in two of them and finishing 12th in Spain. But his 11 race wins were enough to claim him his first world title since 2019, breaking the record for the biggest gap between championships for a rider.
This season started off much worse for the veteran, however, as despite qualifying in second place and finishing in second in the sprint race, the 33-year-old was forced to retire from the race after just 20 laps with a technical issue.
Having won the world title in six of seven seasons between 2013 and 2019, this is a rider who knows how to get the most from his bike and navigate the circuit in difficult circumstances. His experience makes him the obvious favorite, but at -200 there is no value in backing him at this stage.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
Marco Bezzecchi has continued to show his great potential in MotoGP in recent years, and that explains why he’s right up there in the conversation to be the next World Champion.
The 2025 season saw the Italian finish on the podium nine times, including winning the last two races of the season, while he also finished in the top six on four other occasions. That shows the quality that he has, and the fact that he has finished third in the Drivers’ standings twice in the last three years proves that he is more than capable of competing at the top end of the grid.
This season, he had the absolute perfect start. The 27-year-old finished Thailand qualifying in pole position, then won race, all while registering the fastest lap in the process. He did crash out of the sprint race in the opening lap, though.
It’s never easy to maintain such form, but he’s got the ability and the bike to do so. Getting a price of +200 when he’s essentially got a one race headstart on the favorite isn’t awful either, so this is a good value bet.
Considered by many to be the face of the next generation of MotoGP riders, 21-year-old Pedro Acosta is in the conversation for the World Championship this season.
The Spaniard is now in the third season of his MotoGP career despite his tender age, and he has previously finished sixth and and fourth in the world title picture, showing his incredible potential and immediate qualities. In 2025, he sealed that spot with five podium finishes, and a further 12 finishes in the top eight.
The 2026 season started well for him, too, as he won the first sprint race of the season in Thailand, while he also qualified sixth for the main race. That didn’t stop him progressing up the grid, however, and he ended as runner-up, albeit he was over 5 seconds behind the winner.
There is clearly talent and potential there, and crazier things have happened in Motorsports. At odds of +1000, it is surely worth a little punt just to be on the right side of history.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
While it’s unlikely that the Marquez family gets a second world champion this season, the 2025 campaign was so good for the younger brother that he’s worth a mention here anyway.
Marquez put together a stellar campaign, winning the first race of his career in Spain and then winning two more later in the season, while also finishing as runner-up in seven other races, earning a brilliant 467 points in the standings. That would have been enough to win the title in two of the four 20-race seasons in the last four years.
2026 started poorly as he qualified in seventh position for the race, but crashed out after just seven laps, while he also finished 11th in the sprint race.
A title race is unlikely, but if you like the fairytale possibility, then odds of +1500 are available.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
Read Daniel's ProfileAsk Daniel about this guide:
