Marc Marquez says physical reasons are behind his change of aerodynamics for the start of the 2026 MotoGP season.

Ducati introduced a new fairing at the start of the 2025 MotoGP preseason that featured a small step in the bottom plane of the front wings, plus a revised side fairing profile to make space for larger downwash ducts at the bottom.

Marquez joined his fellow factory Ducati riders, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio, in running the 2024 aerodynamics at the beginning of last year, only changing to the newer specification at the Dutch TT last year. Marquez then stuck with it, while Di Giannantonio (who first raced the 2025 fairing in Italy) went back and forth with the 2025 and 2024 specifications, and Bagnaia stuck almost always with the 2024.

Ducati then brought a new side fairing to last year’s Valencia test that included a KTM-style channel between the outer fairing and the inner fairing. This reappeared in Sepang this year with updated front wings that featured a dual-plane bottom element and an overall larger surface area.

None of the Ducati riders have chosen the 2026 updates, and going to the Buriram test the choice seemed to be between the 2025 and 2024 packages.

Marquez chose the 2024 package in Thailand, which was odd considering the choice he made and stuck with mid-2025.

Ahead of the Thai Grand Prix, though, Marquez explained that there are physical reasons for the change, relating to the shoulder injury he picked up in Indonesia last year that ended his season.

“Basically, about the aerodynamics, aero package, you need to find the best for your moment, for your riding style, and the one that performs better,” Marquez said.

“The fact that I stepped back in aerodynamics – one of the reasons – is because I cannot ride the bike in the same way as last year at the moment. 

“So, the 2025 aerodynamics was a little bit more heavy, the bike, more demanding for the physical condition, and then just I’m trying to adapt my riding style to what I have now in my physical condition. 

“But this doesn’t [mean] it’s not working well. Both are working well, but in a different way, but one of my abilities is adapting to what I have and what I need. 

“So, I will try one more time in my career to adapt my riding style to this new situation until I feel more ready.”