Five riders, 24 points: MotoGP’s mouth-watering, record-breaking 2026 title race

After 11 Grands Prix in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, only 24 points separate the top five riders, setting a modern-era record for the closest title race at this stage of the season. Marco Bezzecchi leads the standings, with Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Pedro Acosta, and Ai Ogura all within striking distance heading into the summer break. The standings tightened dramatically after Bezzecchi held a 17-point lead over Martin following the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, where Aprilia secured a 1-2 finish.