Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez’s move from Honda to Ducati wasn’t necessarily a gamble. Marquez had won six MotoGP titles with the Japanese manufacturer, but they were clearly in decline.
Meanwhile, Ducati were becoming a dominant force. After back-to-back constructors’ crowns, Francesco Bagnaia won their first riders’ title since 2007 in 2022.
Marquez initially had to accept a year-old bike at satellite squad Gresini, but even then he won three races. He knew that, if he showed his world-beating talent, a factory move was possible.
And in the end, Luigi Dall’Igna and co. went with the Ant of Cervera over his compatriot Jorge Martin. Marquez retained a ‘beastly’ status that set him apart from Martin, even though the Pramac rider went on to become champion.
Now that Marquez is on the latest Ducati bike, the competitive picture in MotoGP is bleak. He’s unbeaten in meaningful sessions this year, once again leading home his brother Alex in the Argentina Grand Prix last Sunday.
Luigi Dall’Igna says ‘money shouldn’t be an issue’ for Marc Marquez after he left Honda
In an interview with AS Motor, it was put to Dall’Igna that Marquez missed out on an enormous contract extension at Honda. They were apparently in a position to offer him €100m (or £84m) over four years.
Marquez’s Ducati deal runs until the end of 2026, but his salary is unknown. The implication is that he’s earning considerably less than he was with his old employers.
However, Dall’Igna, who ‘smiled’ at the information about Honda, says this should matter little to his superstar rider. He believes winning requires sacrifices.
“Yes, I did [know that], but for someone who wants to win, money shouldn’t be an issue,” he said. “If you want to win, you have to give up so many things, sometimes even money.”
As the most famous rider on the grid, Marquez has also secured lucrative personal sponsorship deals. His agreement with Red Bull came to an end thanks to Ducati’s affiliation with Monster, but he continues to advertise Estrella Galicia among other brands.
Carlo Pernat shares what Marc Marquez ‘worked on’ before his Ducati factory debut
The start of the season really couldn’t have gone any better for Marquez. In addition to enjoying a perfect record, he’s seen Alex come into his own and chief title rival Francesco Bagnaia struggle.
Marquez said the Argentina Grand Prix didn’t feel ‘real’ as he battled with his brother. Bagnaia only finished fourth and he’s now considering reverting to the GP24, something many would interpret as a desperate measure.
Carlo Pernat is in awe of the ‘galactic’ Marquez, suggesting this was the inevitable result of pairing the series’ best rider and best team. The 32-year-old will also be the overwhelming favourite for the Grand Prix of the Americas, an event he’s won a record seven times already.
There is some hope, from the neutral perspective, that Bagnaia could strike back in Qatar and Spain, two historically strong races for the Italian. If Marquez is on a five-win streak by then, almost all hope of a genuine title race will be lost.
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