The 2025 MotoGP World Championship was decided in the 17th race of the season, when the legendary Marc Marquez placed second at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The win came after Marquez dealt with injuries during the 2020-2023 seasons, when he did not finish higher than seventh in the year-end standings. In 2024, Marquez moved from Honda to Ducati. He stayed healthy for that season, but placed third behind young rising stars Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. Marquez was a dominant force in 2025, winning 11 races and placing on the podium in 15 of his 18 starts.
However, the 32-year-old did not avoid injury last year. On the first lap of the Indonesian GP, Marco Bezzecchi collided with Marquez’s rear tire, throwing both men into the gravel. He missed the final four races of the season. In mid-October, the seven-time MotoGP world champ underwent surgery on his right shoulder blade. Marquez hopes to return to the track for the March running of the first race of the season, the Thailand GP, but that is not a sure thing.
Marquez’s younger brother, Alex, had his best year as a MotoGP rider, placing second in the standings, 78 points behind his brother. Bezzecchi placed third for the second time in his MotoGP career. He has never placed higher.
We look at the early betting odds, picks and predictions for the 2026 MotoGP world championship season.
| To Win 2026 MotoGP World Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marc Marquez | -250 | -250 | -225 |
| Marco Bezzecchi | +250 | +250 | +250 |
| Alex Marquez | +450 | +500 | +500 |
| Francesco Bagnaia | +800 | +850 | +750 |
| Pedro Acosta | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Jorge Martin | +1500 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Raul Fernandez | +2200 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Race | Date |
| Thailand GP | Sunday, March 1, 2026 |
| Brazil GP | Sunday, March 22, 2026 |
| Americas GP | Sunday, March 29, 2026 |
| Qatar GP | Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
| Spanish GP | Sunday, April 26, 2026 |
| French GP | Sunday, May 10, 2026 |
| Catalan GP | Sunday, May 17, 2026 |
| Italian GP | Sunday, May 31, 2026 |
| Hungary GP | Sunday, June 7, 2026 |
| Czech Republic GP | Sunday, June 21, 2026 |
| Dutch GP | Sunday, June 28, 2026 |
| German GP | Sunday, July 12, 2026 |
| British GP | Sunday, August 9, 2026 |
| Aragon GP | Sunday, August 30, 2026 |
| San Marino GP | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Austrian GP | Sunday, September 20, 2026 |
| Japanese GP | Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
| Indonesian GP | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| Australian GP | Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| Malaysian GP | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Portugal GP | Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
| Valencia GP | Sunday, November 22, 2026 |
Marc Marquez was the dominant MotoGP rider between 2013 and 2019. He won six championships in those seven years and placed third in the only year (2015) he did not take home a title. However, injuries shortened his seasons from 2020 through 2023. He seemed to lose something during that time, and a fresh start with the Gresini Racing (Ducati) team in 2024 suited him well. Marquez started every race that year, finishing third overall. He moved to the Ducati Lenovo Team for the 2025 season, joining Bagnaia. That move worked out great for Marquez, who won the 2025 MotoGP championship while not competing in the final four races of the year because of injury.
One reason Marquez struggled with injuries in the past is that he rushed back into action. He has been more cautious this time. Opting to focus on his recovery and fitness. If he is able to make it back for the start of the 2026 season at 100 percent, Marquez will be the clear betting favorite. The current betting odds suggest the bookmakers believe Marquez has learned from his previous injuries and will return to the MotoGP season with his confidence, and health, intact.
Marco Bezzecchi placed third in the MotoGP standings in 2023, but fell to 12th in 2024, only picking up one podium, a third place in the Spanish GP. The 27-year-old bounced back in 2025, placing third on the strength of back-to-back wins in the final two races of the year. Before that, Bezzecchi had a single victory, taking first in May at the British GP. He finished last season with three runner-up finishes and three thirds.
2025 was Bezzechi’s first year with the Aprilia factory team, alongside Jorge Martin. He had previously raced for the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, riding a Ducati. When the team signed the pair, they expected Martin to be the main focus, but with Martin missing much of the season due to injury, Bezzecchi became the team’s top rider.
With his overall performance in the second half of the season, look for Aprilia to do whatever it takes to have Bezzecchi and his bike prepared to give Marquez a big test in 2026.
With Marquez’s injury and the betting odds being what they are, Bezzecchi might be a solid value betting pick to win the 2026 MotoGP championship.
Alex Marquez has been on the MotoGP circuit since 2020, driving for Ducati since 2023. The younger Marquez started every race in 2024, finishing the season in eighth place. Marquez did not win a race between 2020 and 2024. He ended that run in April 2025 when he placed first at the Spanish GP. He then went on to stand on the podium eight more times during the season, winning two more races. At the end of the year, the 29-year-old finished in a surprising second place in the standings.
Despite finishing in the runner-up position in the standings in 2025, Marquez will enter the 2026 season with a lot of confidence. He should no longer be seen as Marc Marquez’s younger brother, but as a legitimate threat to win a MotoGP championship. Will 2026 be the year that Alex Marquez breaks through? The oddsmakers seem to think he has a real chance to win the title.
With Marc Marquez being injured to finish the year in 2025, and his being the overwhelming betting favorite to win the 2026 MotoGP world championship, the reigning champ might not be the best bet to win. The betting value before the start of the season is on Marco Bezzecchi.
The early betting pick to win the 2026 MotoGP world championship is Marco Bezzecchi.
Once you are all up to speed on the latest MotoGP Hungary Grand Prix news and information, make sure to check out the fantastic array of resources for you over at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the topic covered here, you should bookmark the MotoGP betting sites rundown. On this page you can find a variety of awesome information as it relates to the sport including the latest betting markets and beyond. Additionally, for those on the go, another fantastic page to familiarize yourself with is the best betting apps breakdown, which goes over all of the nuances of mobile betting sites and beyond. Finally, for those interested in maximizing their wagers, look no further than the best bonus betting sites guide, which contains a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers.
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