What Davide Tardozzi privately told Marc Marquez about 2026 after winning his seventh MotoGP title

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Marc Marquez has dominated the 2025 MotoGP season, wrapping up the title last weekend at Motegi. He will have his sights set on next season for another record-breaking title.

Marquez has returned to the incredible heights he displayed at Honda back in the 2010s. Winning 25 races, including Sprints, he was able to secure his seventh MotoGP title and ninth overall with five events still to go.

Honda staff were ‘really emotional’ as they got to share Marquez’s triumph with him, with Joan Mir finishing on the podium behind the factory Ducati riders. The Ant of Cervera left the team in 2024 after years of injury setbacks, giving up a multi-million-pound salary.

He was determined to return to the top and knew that Ducati was the way to do it. Riding the GP25, he has adapted seamlessly to a bike that is weaker than its predecessor and has scored the most points in a MotoGP season.

Marquez told Ducati mechanics they were ‘perfect’ in his speech in the garage after winning the title. The Spaniard has been almost unbeatable in 2025, and he could well do the same in 2026.

Davide Tardozzi tells Marc Marquez to ‘have fun’ for the rest of the season and focus on 2026 in winter testing

Marquez has equalled Valentino Rossi’s titles as he moves one away from Giacomo Agostini for MotoGP championships. He will level the Italian’s all-time record if he reigns supreme with Ducati next year.

Given the Borgo Panigale outfit’s dominance over the field, the 32-year-old will be the favourite for the title again. But he still has five races in 2025 to compete in before he can start to focus on next year, but Davide Tardozzi says he can take his foot off the gas a bit.

In a behind-the-scenes video on MotoGP’s official YouTube channel, the Ducati chief told Marquez he does not have to worry about 2026 until winter testing in Sepang. He is allowed to ‘have some fun’ before then.

“You can have some fun in the next races. But from Sepang [2026 Winter test] onwards, we’ll start thinking about the title again,” said Tardozzi, before Marquez simply replied: “We’ll see!”

The Spaniard may well be eyeing up more victories to close out the 2025 season. Tardozzi then reiterated: “But from Sepang, I mean the 2026 winter test, we’ll start thinking about the title. For now, you can have fun!”

The pair embraced as Marquez said: “Everything was under control today.” He finished second at Motegi behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia, which was enough to secure him the title.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend

Who could pose a threat to Marc Marquez for the 2026 title?

After such a dominant year, many will be wondering if anyone can stand up to Marquez and Ducati next season. At present, Aprilia seem like their closest challengers from the outside, with Marco Bezzecchi running close to Marquez at several races in 2025.

Brother Alex Marquez and teammate Bagnaia will hope to get closer to the Spaniard in 2026. The former is a staggering 201 points behind Marquez heading into the Indonesian GP this weekend.

Alex Marquez will have a factory bike next year, while Bagnaia has taken huge confidence from Motegi after claiming pole and both race wins. Ducati made radical changes to his bike, which finally gave him the feeling he had been missing all season.

Bagnaia’s ‘inner circle’ believe they can challenge Marquez in 2026 with their latest findings. Ducati are starting to think that too, as Tardozzi has warned Marquez about Bagnaia and how he is his biggest problem next season.