Marco Bezzecchi
2026 may be Marc Marquez’s last chance to win a MotoGP title. It all depends on what he decides to do with himself in the future.
It’s impossible to predict who will conquer the new regulations from the start of the 2027 season, which makes the Spaniard’s next contract decision a tough one.
The MotoGP rider market is going to be chaotic and dictated by a handful of talents, who are going to have plenty of options at their disposal.
One of them will be Marquez, who faces a tough call whether to continue with Ducati or take a gamble and go elsewhere.
Why should Luigi Dall’Igna design a bike that suits anyone other than Marc Marquez?
Marquez’s advantage may be reduced in 2026, as his team looks to build a better-rounded bike for his teammates.
As his recovery from a shoulder injury continues, Marquez has ‘no intention’ of doing a Portimao test with World Superbike riders before the new season. He doesn’t want to take extra risks.
Giacomo Agostini thinks Marc Marquez’s 2027 MotoGP team choice will be ‘difficult’
Marquez has ‘ruled out’ missing pre-season testing, but that may be down to a variety of reasons. He really needs to get on his new bike as soon as possible.
From there, he will learn whether it’s competitive and which tweaks must be made before the opener. It will also tell him if Ducati have managed to improve this winter.
If not, he might have some doubts about them just as he begins to negotiate his next deal. He’s the favourite for the 2026 title, and if he wins, leaving won’t be an option.
But decision time will come before he knows whether he has successfully defended his seventh title. That’s why Giacomo Agostini predicts that it will be a ‘difficult’ decision for him.
“Right now, he’s the best,” he told GPOne. “He’s the world champion, and therefore, the man to beat. We’ll see if he comes back 100%, but I think he’ll already be in shape for the first race.
“Will he stay with Ducati, or will he return to Honda? I don’t know. It’s difficult because we don’t know what the bikes will be like in 2027, how they will be developed, or which manufacturer will work best during this period.”
READ MORE: Ducati test rider comments on Marc Marquez’s condition after seeing his first laps since injury
Why Ducati would benefit from tying Marc Marquez to a 2027 contract sooner
There are many reasons why the confirmation of Marquez extending his stay at the Borgo Panigale outfit would benefit them over the next 12 months.
First of all, there’s the obvious marketing side of it, then there’s the motivational side of it. Keeping his colleagues happy.
If they know that he’s going to leave, are they going to be prepared to go that extra mile to try and win? Maybe not.
They’ve had the best bike for years, and it’s fair to presume that they’ll be competitive in 2027, too. For Marquez, leaving would be the far greater risk.
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