Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez will want to remind everyone of just why he’s a MotoGP champion when he steps onto the grid this season.
He does every year, and that’s part of what makes him so great. It’s also why Ducati ought to renew his contract sooner rather than later.
Throughout his career, Marquez has always felt like a little bit of a cheat code. He can do things on a motorcycle that no one else can.
It’s also why he might be the key factor in the MotoGP rider market in the coming months, as teams wait to see what sort of decision he makes ahead of the new regulations in 2027.
Marc Marquez’s new Ducati contract looks a done deal 👀 but who should be his teammate in 2027?
Marquez’s new contract will be announced before Thailand, the first race of the season, according to reports.
This winter, Marquez has been ‘thinking’ about winning again, despite recovering from a brutal collarbone injury. It’s what he lives and breathes for.
READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia told why he’s lucky to be ‘incredible’ Marc Marquez’s MotoGP teammate
Marc Marquez knew everyone’s names at Ducati before his very first day of work
Max Biaggi expects Marquez to retire after his 10th title, which would be an astonishing achievement, but it is at least three years away from potentially happening.
Maybe he looks to secure a fairytale return to Honda before his retirement? He shouldn’t feel pushed to do that, regardless, since he’s in such a strong position now.
If Ducati have been making the best bikes for so many years, then sticking with them for at least the very first year of the new regulations is a good move.
Besides, he knows the team well now, but he actually already knew them quite well before even starting his job. He looked up everyone’s names and job roles, which is remarkable dedication.
“At the first meeting, he knew all the names, surnames, and job titles of everyone on the team,” Mauro Grassilli told Motosprint. “When someone he didn’t know introduced himself to him, he replied, ‘You weren’t on the website.’
“He studied all the team members on the website to be ready for the first meeting. There are riders I’ve worked with who didn’t even remember my name.”
READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia debunks claims that Ducati are favouring Marc Marquez in MotoGP bike development
Why Marc Marquez needs to be cautious during MotoGP’s pre-season
Marquez’s advantage could be reduced in 2026, as his team tries to make up for some of the things that their GP25 iteration lacked.
In return, that may force him to push a little more, which is a dangerous thing considering he’s only just coming back from a major injury.
The time to push is not pre-season. Look at what happened to Jorge Martin last year, and how that derailed his whole title defence.
Instead, Marquez needs to make sure that he’s on the grid for Sunday’s race in Thailand, then he can begin to really explore the limits again.
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