Carlo Pernat, in a joyful, spring-like mood, begins his assessment of the first MotoGP race of 2026 in Buriram: “Four swallows make a springWith that, Pernat buries the Ducati myth and crowns his beloved former colors, Aprilia… Buriram didn't just launch the 2026 season. The Thai Grand Prix shattered a certainty: Ducati is no longer untouchable. And while some were still trying to downplay the event, Carlo Pernat chose to rub salt in the wound.
For the Italian, Aprilia She didn't win. She sent a message. I would say that this Grand Prix can be summed up by a proverb: one swallow does not make a summer, but four swallows make a flock. The swallow is Marco BezzecchiAnd the cloud is four Aprilia in the top 5.
This is not an isolated feat. This is not an opportunistic weekend. This is not favorable weather. This is a structural demonstration.
Bezzecchi He dominated. Pole position, suffocating pace, a hard-fought victory. If he hadn't crashed during the sprint, as Pernat points out, the day would have been memorable ».
And he insists on GP One : « Four Aprilias in the top 5 is not a detail, it's a significant fact. »
In the paddock, this kind of statement isn't made lightly. And it's based on this observation: Ducati 88 podiums… then emptinessThe statistic is stark: 88 consecutive Grands Prix with at least one driver on the podium. The streak has come to an abrupt end.
« Ducati had not finished outside the podium for more than 88 Grands Prix. This is a significant negative outcome, four major setbacks. »
Four major setbacks. This wasn't an isolated puncture. This wasn't a strategic error. This was a weekend where the entire fleet seemed destabilized.
Feathered goes further: " Something happened, because Their performances have all been disappointing; this is not an isolated problem »
And regarding the abandonment of Marc Marquez ... " And regarding Marquez, I'm almost certain: it wasn't the kerb; the tire gave way earlier.In other words: the problem is deeper than the visible incident.
The burden is also particularly severe for Pecco Bagnaia.
« Bagnaia is practically invisible. He's in exactly the same place as last year. Good in practice, but he collapses in the race. Always dead last"That's a hurtful criticism."
Even after the fall of MarquezBagnaia was not the first Ducati. Feathered, who are " it's a sign ».
In a team that has built its dominance on the depth of its roster, seeing its two-time world champion eliminated in the first round raises questions.
Bezzecchi, the only real rival? Carlo Pernat responds!
The formula is sharp: Bezzecchi is Ducati's only real rival"Stratospheric," he said. But he didn't limit his analysis to the pilot. He broadened it to include the machine.
« Martin also had a superb race and, after a year almost entirely away from the circuits, he is back at the forefront. This proves that the motorcycle is truly high-performing. »
And if the satellites also shine, with Ogura et Raul fernandezThis means one thing: the technical foundations are very solid »
Aprilia She hasn't simply progressed. She has stabilized her project.
Feathered It doesn't stop there. When we say that true talents are three in number – Marquez, Quartararo and Pedro Acosta – that's not an exaggeration »
Peter Acosta is, according to him, the keystone of the project KTM that holds the top spot. " Pedro keeps KTM afloat. KTM exists today thanks to him. »
And the strategy is deliberate:
« Everything is done with Acosta in mind. : every new feature, every development, even a new screw, is presented to him first. The others are set aside »
Technical choice. Strategic choice. Absolute priority. In a delicate financial context, KTM bet on a man.
Meanwhile, Yamaha He is still struggling to get used to his new engine. Honda slowly making its way back into the top 10.
More Legt remains cautious: " We're waiting for Jerez, we're waiting for the races outside of Europe to get a clearer picture. »
And then there is this conclusion, heavy with meaning:
« Today, Aprilia and Bezzecchi are the true favorites. Even more so than the factory Ducati and Marquez are currently. »
This isn't a comment. It's a symbolic reversal. For years, the paddock wondered who could beat Ducati.
In Buriram, the question has changed: Ducati can she still beat Aprilia The season is long.
But for the first time in years, the Borgo Panigale factory is no longer setting the pace. It has to respond.
