Marc Marquez must stop Ducati from including one clause in his new MotoGP contract

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Marc Marquez is reportedly getting closer to signing a new MotoGP contract with Ducati. The renewal won’t come as a surprise after Marquez’s dominant 2025 title win.

Marquez crushed the field in his first year at the factory team, extending Ducati’s title streak to four years. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, an extension is likely to be finalised in the spring.

There had been some talk that Marquez could return to Honda, but the Japanese manufacturer haven’t yet returned to a title-contending level.

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With Marquez poised to re-sign and Pedro Acosta already ‘locked in’ for 2027 at an unnamed team, the MotoGP rider market could progress quicker than anticipated.

Marc Marquez must not sign for two years for Ducati

Gazzetta’s report states that Marquez and Ducati are working towards a new two-year deal that would keep him at the team until the end of 2028. He would be 35 years old at that stage.

But Marquez must agree to a one-plus-one contract at best. Tying himself down for an additional two seasons would be a mistake.

Marquez has already said that no team can offer guarantees for 2027, when the technical regulations will be overhauled.

Ducati have built a winning structure that should allow them to sustain their success, but Marquez’s stock is so high that he could have insisted on an exit clause in the event that rivals jump ahead.

Marquez left Honda before the end of his contract in 2023 and could theoretically do the same here if Ducati’s competitors seize their opportunity. But last year, Carmelo Ezpeleta insisted that riders like Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta respect their contracts, and he’s unlikely to make an exception.

How much will Marc Marquez earn through new Ducati contract?

Marquez’s base salary for 2025 was just £2.6m, according to a recent report. It’s believed that he earned a further £3.5m through bonuses during a historic campaign.

Gazzetta say his new deal could be worth a ‘fixed’ £13m per year, the kind of pay rise that will likely limit Ducati’s budget for his teammate.

Indeed, it’s already been reported that Francesco Bagnaia will have to take a pay cut if he wants to keep his seat, as well as improving on track.

Fabio Quartararo may accept a reduced salary for a more competitive bike if he leaves Yamaha, so this contract cycle could make Marquez the top earner on the grid by a significant margin.