MotoGP mid-season recap: All you need to know before the season restarts
- Silvia Cojocaru
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
MotoGP reached the halfway point of the season, and after 12 rounds of exciting racing, there is even more thrilling racing waiting ahead. The five leading riders are separated by less than 25 points, the closest gap in the modern era.
Today we are recapping the main talking points that you might’ve missed in 2026 and highlighting some of the most exciting developing storylines to keep an eye on!
Marco Bezzecchi’s rise and fall
Marco Bezzecchi went on the most dominant run of his career at the start of the season, breaking the record for the most consecutive Grand Prix laps led (121) and maintaining the championship lead for 11 rounds straight. The Italian also managed an impressive streak of five Grand Prix wins, a run that began in 2025 at Portimao.
Perhaps the biggest achievement for Bezzecchi so far is his home win at Mugello, something he has been chasing for his entire career.
However, this race also marked a turning point in the Italian’s season. His teammate caused him to crash out of the Hungarian Grand Prix, he was banned from the race in Czechia for striking a marshal during the Saturday sprint, and he crashed in both the Netherlands and Germany.
A total of zero points on four Sundays meant he finally gave up the championship lead after the Netherlands Grand Prix and is now fourth in the standings and 22 points off the lead.
With the Aprilia rider expected to return at the British Grand Prix, could the Italian return to his dominant form from the start of the season or is the championship dream over for Bezzecchi?
Jorge Martin holds on to the lead
Outshined by his teammate in the first half of the season, Jorge Martin did not look like a possible contender for the first few races.
Still, he scored valuable points in the Grand Prix and cemented himself as a Sprint race expert on Saturdays.
His relentlessness helped him be the first to pick up the pieces once his teammate, Bezzecchi, began to struggle, and the Spaniard enters the second half of the season as the championship leader.
Could the “Martinator” begin to perform in the Grand Prix as well, or will his unmatched sprint performances be enough to keep the competition at bay?
Marc Marquez’s comeback
The reigning World Champion, coming off one of the most dominant seasons in recent MotoGP history, Marc Marquez struggled at the start of the year, not even being able to finish the opening race.
A combination of Ducati struggling to compete against Aprilia and KTM, and Marc Marquez having just returned from a shoulder injury suffered at the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix meant that the Spaniard was not part of the championship fight for most of the beginning of the season.
However, it will take more to bring the eight-time world champion down. As the Aprilias began to struggle, Marc Marquez managed to recover valuable points and is currently third in the standings. The Spaniard is determined to fight for another title, already starting to put pressure on the riders ahead. Could Marc Marquez make history once again?
Ai Ogura: The dark horse of the season
Someone who initially went unnoticed in the title fight, Ai Ogura has steadily built a solid point foundation. While the Aprilia factory riders began to struggle, the Trackhouse team was there to pick up the pieces, especially in their dream Assen weekend.
Ogura's consistency took him in front of his teammate and now to second in the standings, just 14 points behind Jorge Martin.
Although when he was asked about a potential title, the Japanese rider said that this wasn't currently on his mind, it might be time for Ogura to admit to being a serious championship contender.
KTM struggles
Potentially one of the biggest unanswered questions of the season is KTM and where their riders stand in the championship fight.
Pedro Acosta managed some good performances but has unfortunately faced numerous technical issues that were out of his control.
Most notably, at the Catalan Grand Prix, Brad Binder was forced to start from the pit lane after encountering technical issues before the race even started, while Acosta suffered similar issues during the race. The Spaniard's problem affected other riders as well, with Alex Marquez suffering a terrifying crash while attempting to avoid a collision with the KTM rider.
These problems may now be too grave for KTM to recover in the championship fight, but Acosta will surely hope to achieve the first Grand Prix win of his career.
Silly season in full swing
All the teams are slowly beginning to unveil their line-ups for the following season, and with most riders enjoying their last moments with their current manufacturers, everyone will be looking to leave at a high level.
Most recently, Honda HRC Castrol announced that Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 world champion, and David Alonso, the Moto3 sensation, will join their team. Read more about it here: MotoGP 2027 line-up update: Honda HRC Castrol.
Meanwhile, KTM Tech3, VR46 Racing and Trackhouse are yet to confirm who any of their riders will be for 2027.
Only a week is left before MotoGP goes racing again, with the British Grand Prix taking place on the 9th of August at 13.00 track time (14.00 BST). What are your predictions for the remaining part of the season?
Edited by Dhara Dave
Thanks a lot and Have Nice Day after a long time see your blog: CineHD