Carlo Pernat has called for urgent and “serious meetings” within ‘s ranks after witnessing ‘s overwhelming dominance at the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika.
The Noale factory team delivered a historic performance, securing an unprecedented 1-2-3-4 finish in ‘s premier class, with clinching his first victory since May’s Italian GP. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, Ducati’s leading contender, could only manage sixth place, trailing nearly ten seconds behind the leader.
Pernat, a seasoned former rider agent, voiced his concern over Ducati’s technical shortcomings this season, highlighting the stark gap revealed in Mandalika. “Ducati has not exactly done a great job technically this year,” Pernat told GPOne shortly after Bezzecchi’s triumph. “On Sunday, Marc Marquez finished around ten seconds behind. That’s a lot.” He further noted that Marquez’s Ducati teammates – including – were clustered closely behind him, indicating a broader issue within the factory squad’s performance envelope. Even KTM’s Acosta, on a bike less suited to Mandalika’s flowing layout, finished ahead of Marquez, underscoring the severity of Ducati’s current predicament.
The 2026 battle has become a study in contrasting circuit characteristics and machine strengths. Marquez has excelled on anticlockwise tracks, leveraging his innate skill and experience, while Aprilia’s RS-GP26 has proven nearly unbeatable on high-speed, flowing circuits like Mandalika. Pernat’s analysis suggests Aprilia has effectively neutralized Marquez’s advantage by delivering a bike that is simply too fast and well-suited to certain venues.
Despite these challenges, Pernat remains cautiously optimistic about Marquez’s title chances but insists Ducati must act decisively. “Ducati need to hold some serious meetings. Gigi Dall’Igna, the technicians and the riders. Actually, not the riders… the rider. Because now it’s Marquez against everyone else,” Pernat stressed. He urged Ducati to urgently diagnose the root causes behind Aprilia’s current supremacy and devise a strategy to reclaim competitiveness.
With the Indonesian GP serving as a glaring wake-up call, Ducati’s leadership faces mounting pressure to respond quickly and effectively. Pernat’s call for internal reckoning highlights the critical crossroads at which Ducati finds itself – a crossroads that will determine whether Marquez can still secure an eighth world title or if Aprilia’s dominance will dictate the narrative moving forward.