Why Marc Marquez rejoining Honda seems almost ‘inevitable’ if Ducati dominance continues

Add as preferred source on Google

Marc Marquez’s partnership with Honda is the greatest in MotoGP’s modern history. He won six world championships in seven seasons while riding for the Japanese giants.

Not even Valentino Rossi and Yamaha (four titles) can match that level of success. And while Marquez left at the end of the 2023 season, the story may not have concluded just yet.

There came a point where Honda were no longer competitive enough to satisfy the Spaniard’s ambitions. He perhaps disguised their decline for years and was increasingly forced to override, leading to a multitude of crashes.

After an injury-hit four years, Marquez terminated his Honda contract to ride a Ducati. He will almost certainly complete one of sport’s great comeback stories by winning the title this year.

Marc Marquez would turn off ‘easy mode’ if he left Ducati for Honda

With no major changes to the regulations for 2026, Marquez’s advantage could be set in stone for the next 18 months. It’s highly likely that he’s an eight-time premier-class champion and 10-time Grand Prix champion by the time he reaches the end of his Ducati contract.

That would see him surpass great rival Rossi and equal Giacomo Agostini. Winning one final title at Honda in his mid-30s could cement his status as the greatest of all time.

As Simon Patterson explained on The Race MotoGP podcast, Marquez isn’t necessarily fulfilled by ‘playing on easy mode’. He’s won 19 out of 24 races in total this year as Ducati continue to dominate the series.

Marquez may derive some more satisfaction from turning Honda into champions again. While still some way from winning regularly, they returned to the top step of the podium at the French Grand Prix when Johann Zarco won for LCR.

“The Ducati dominance is almost making it inevitable that he goes back to Honda,” Patterson said. “We’ve used the analogy before, but it’s like he’s playing on easy mode, and I don’t think he enjoys that particularly, even though it’s nice to be winning.

• READ MORE: Honda boss Alberto Puig rages at the ‘pure lie’ he’s read about Marc Marquez’s exit

“If he wins two titles, which he’s probably going to do, then he beats Valentino Rossi’s record. Going back to Honda becomes the ultimate stamp of ‘Marc Marquez is the GOAT’, if he goes back to Honda and wins another one. That makes that argument for us – he really is the greatest of all time at that point.”

What have Honda said about the possibility of bringing Marc Marquez back?

Speaking earlier this year, LCR’s Lucio Cecchinello said it would be ‘useless’ for Honda to have a rider like Marquez. The bike is not yet at the level to maximise the talents of a ‘phenomenon’ like him.

But there’s optimism about their future after the signings of Romano Albesiano from Aprilia and Kurt Trieb from KTM. They’re willing to embrace new perspectives from Europe.

HRC team manager Alberto Puig has said it would be ‘complicated’ to bring back Marquez. But if he indicated a willingness to join, one suspects they would do all they could to accommodate him.

Marquez has an ’emotional bond’ with Honda, which made him second-guess his exit. His historic success at Ducati won’t dampen those memories.