Ducati are hoping to tie Marc Marquez down to a new contract as his current deal expires at the end of the 2026 season.
Retaining the Spaniard will be Ducati’s number one priority, given the incredible success the pair had together in 2025. Marquez won 11 Grand Prix and 14 Sprint races on his way to his ninth championship.
What do you expect Marc Marquez to achieve in 2026?
The MotoGP rider market is set to be chaotic in 2026, with Marquez potentially at the centre. His deal with Ducati runs out at the end of the year, and several manufacturers are plotting ambitious moves for the 32-year-old.
Honda have been heavily linked with Marquez and a sensational reunion, and it is one that he is not opposed to. Elsewhere, KTM have made a ‘strong’ offer to Marquez, highlighting just how in demand the Ant of Cervera is.
Davide Tardozzi says Marc Marquez will continue his negotiations with Ducati ‘soon’
Marquez recently took part in his first test since injury, riding a Panigale V2 street bike at the Aspar circuit in Valencia. He appears in good shape and is working on building up the sensations for a return to a MotoGP machine.
But the matter of his contract also needs addressing, and Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has provided an update on the situation to MotoriOnline. He says negotiations will continue ‘soon’ and he is well aware of the interest in Marquez.
“It’s clear that Marc is the most desirable rider, without taking anything away from all the others who are also Champions,” said Tardozzi.
Finish the sentence: In 2027, Marc Marquez will ride for…
“Marc, being World Champion and having demonstrated what he has over the years, is the rider all the manufacturers would like.
“There’s an excellent relationship between us and Marc, and this is facilitating negotiations; we’re talking about it. Nothing has been decided yet.
“Marc said he’ll discuss it soon and continue the negotiations; we’ll see who he does it with and who he concludes with.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend
Davide Tardozzi describes the 2027 MotoGP regulations as a ‘gamble’
With the new regulation changes not coming until 2027, many are expecting the 2026 season to be similar, or exactly the same as the previous year, with Marquez and Ducati as the favourites.
But that could all change next year, with the 850cc bikes presenting a new challenge for the manufacturers. Tardozzi knows that the rules could see a dramatic shift in the pecking order, making any transfer for any rider a risky one.
“I think it’s truly revolutionary, because both technically and in terms of tyres, a change like this has never been made before. So I think there’s huge expectations right now from all the manufacturers, especially the riders.
“The riders’ market has never been so open, but right now the question is who will have the winning bike in 2027. The first can become last and vice versa, so it will truly be a gamble, a very interesting year.”
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