APRILIA STEALS THE SHOW AS ALEX MARQUEZ SCRAPES BY WITH SEVENTH IN AUSTIN
Alex Marquez admits Ducati is trailing Aprilia in the 2026 MotoGP season, citing a need for more time to unlock the bike.
Alex Marquez is kicking off the 2026 season in a way that feels miles away from how last year ended. In Austin, he barely managed to grab seventh place, and he admitted to reporters he pretty much scraped by. He needs more time to get comfortable on the new factory Ducati, and honestly, he says missing the Qatar round is an unexpected plus. It gives him and the team a breather to analyse things. But nobody’s pretending the main issue isn’t staring them in the face: Ducati’s struggling, and Aprilia is stealing the show.
Still, Alex isn’t frustrated, just realistic. The season’s long, and Ducati’s history proves they’re good at bouncing back. “I’m not happy, but this is what I expected,” Alex told the press. “I tried to stay in the mix, not lose time fighting for places. Starting from the third row is tough. All the Ducatis were running a similar pace, except Marc; he was consistent even on the long lap. We haven’t figured out how to unlock the bike’s full potential yet. Right now, we’re a step behind.”
His start this year is nothing like last season, but he’s taking it in stride.
“I’m not frustrated; I just want to keep working. I’m motivated, and I feel we’re close to a breakthrough. We're missing something, though, and honestly, not racing in Qatar right now helps; it gives us space to dig into what’s wrong.”
He battled with Ogura’s Aprilia and saw up close what Aprilia’s got going for it.
“Ogura passed me, and I pushed for three corners, trying to keep up, but by the time I recovered, he was gone. That was impressive. He was pushing so hard, and his bike had tonnes of grip; it’s like Aprilia’s running a very low, stable bike right now.”
Marc Marquez came past him, too.
“When I saw the warning on the board, I knew Marc was coming, and I knew he’d attack right there. I know his style. I tried to defend, but honestly, I won’t bother changing the lock on my front door; I’ve already moved on,” Alex joked.
Aprilia is dominating early in the season. What’s changed?
“They’re just super competitive right now. Last year, Ducati was ahead, and Aprilia couldn’t touch us. Now, Ducati’s back at work, and I trust them. At some point this season, we’ll step up again. With Ducati, the factory bikes always need half a season to hit their stride, and then they start flying, as we saw in 2022 and 2023. I’m not the kind to stop working; I’ll keep giving feedback and pushing to improve.”
Now that he’s a factory Ducati rider, is he worried about losing that spot in the future?
“No, honestly, riders are paid through the end of the year, and the team tries to help everyone out, collecting as much info as possible. Nothing’s changed; Ducati keeps backing all four factory riders.”
THE PLAYOFF PATH: HOW THE KNICKS CAN CLINCH A 2026 POSTSEASON BERTH TONIGHT WITHOUT PLAYING
The New York Knicks could clinch a 2026 NBA Playoff spot tonight if the 76ers lose to the Heat, despite a loss to OKC.
The Knicks lost to the Thunder on Sunday night, and Miles McBride's return got cut short, but they might still punch their ticket for the 2026 NBA playoffs tonight. If the 76ers lose to the Heat, the Knicks clinch a spot, no questions asked.
Even after Sunday’s defeat, New York holds the third seed in the East. With 48 wins under their belt, all it takes is a Philly loss to secure their postseason spot. Detroit and Boston already locked theirs, and now the Knicks can join them if the Sixers stumble.
The NBA says it straight: if Philadelphia goes down, the Knicks are in. They’re sitting at 48-27, just ahead of Cleveland and trailing Boston. If the standings stay as they are, New York keeps the third seed and gets home court in the first round. It’s not guaranteed past that, but they’re looking good.
Honestly, a 76ers loss tonight would mean the Knicks could drop every remaining game and still get in. That’s wild considering not so long ago, New York struggled just to finish above .500. But lately, things are looking up: four playoff appearances in five years and every season since Jalen Brunson joined.
Last year, they made it to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Sure, they lost to the Pacers in six, but this squad has hope. They’re chasing a finals appearance, number nine in franchise history, and their first championship since 1973.
Now, about McBride. The Knicks need their key guys healthy if they want a real postseason shot, but injuries are still an issue. McBride returned after nearly two months out for sports hernia surgery, but things didn’t go smoothly. In the third quarter against OKC, he dove for a loose ball, grabbed his groin, and headed straight to the locker room. He didn’t come back.
McBride finished the night with zero points, a rebound, an assist, and a block in just 11 minutes. Coach Mike Brown wasn’t sure if McBride had aggravated his previous injury and admitted he hadn’t talked to medical staff yet. “It’s tough. He’s worked so hard to get back,” Brown said. “You felt his presence; even though he didn’t make a shot, he gave us a lift.”
No further word yet on McBride’s injury. It’s a rough break for him. The Knicks need him and Shamet, who’s still on the injury report, back for the playoffs. If they want another deep run, they’ll need all hands on deck.
TY SIMPSON OFFICIALLY ENTERS QB1 CONVERSATION FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT AFTER BAMA RUN
Ty Simpson challenges Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza for QB1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout Bama season.
After waiting behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson’s only season as Alabama’s starter has propelled him into serious first-round talk for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even being discussed as the top quarterback prospect over Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
But not everyone agrees. Former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko tweeted his scepticism: 'Ty Simpson wasn’t even going to start at Bama in 2026, and here y’all go calling him QB1 this draft.' This is how GMs get fired. Watch.
Orlovsky, however, stands by his view that Simpson holds the edge over Mendoza. He pointed out that when comparing their bodies of work, Simpson carried more of the load for his team. The gap, he says, is clear when you consider who had to do more and who won more games during the season: that’s Simpson, no contest.
Mendoza enters the draft after an extraordinary season. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and took home the Heisman Trophy. Scouts see him as the most pro-ready passer but have concerns over his pressure-to-sack rate, which hovers around 18.9%, potentially an issue for teams with weak offensive lines.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s draft stock rose sharply during a strong four-game run facing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. His upcoming performance at Alabama’s Pro Day could be crucial, especially for teams looking at quarterbacks who bring mobility and playmaking alongside pocket passing.
Simpson’s experience is limited to just 15 college games, thanks to the stacked quarterback depth at Alabama. Still, once he became the starter, he delivered solid numbers: 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in the 2025 season.
Former NFL safety Louis Riddick has been vocal about Simpson’s potential. Speaking on ESPN, Riddick said that seeing him throw in person reveals the kind of physical talent Simpson has. He’s confident in Simpson’s mental game but notes the physical attributes will really stand out when seen up close. Riddick expects Simpson to continue improving his draft stock.
Simpson will get another chance to impress scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, which could be pivotal in shaping his position ahead of the draft.
