Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez produced an incredible comeback in MotoGP with Ducati in 2025 as he bounced back from years of injuries to claim the championship.
The Spaniard was on the verge of retirement after his crash with Honda at Jerez in 2020, and his numerous injury setbacks that followed. Neil Hodgson thought Marquez would retire in 2023 after he suffered five heavy crashes in Germany.
But at the end of that season, he decided to leave Honda after they had regressed in performance. Marquez was being headhunted by KTM, but he instead opted for Gresini and the clear pathway to the factory Ducati team.
When do you think Marc Marquez will retire from MotoGP?
After one season with Gresini, Marquez got his promotion to Ducati over Jorge Martin in 2025. It would prove to be a masterstroke as he won 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprints, clinching the title with four rounds to spare.
The 32-year-old wanted to prove that he could still perform at the top of MotoGP and was desperate to win the championship. Now, Marquez has equalled Valentino Rossi’s record for premier class titles, and he could surpass him in 2026.
Marc Marquez no longer feels a responsibility to win at Ducati after claiming 2025 title
Marquez will be the favourite to win the title this season, even after recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained in Indonesia. However, while the Spaniard is still motivated to perform, he does not feel he has the same responsibility to win as he did in 2025.
He said via the BENZINE // Cosimo Curatola YouTube channel: “It’s something I said after winning at Motegi. I don’t feel like being on the bike, and then in Thailand, it hurt me, but it’s good that this happened because it had to be that way.
“It’s true that this winter has been tough, because after winning, again without holidays, there the physiotherapist is morning, afternoon, but it’s my passion.
“I know that every year is one year less that I can enjoy my passion. I see it that way. No, I’m not saying to finish, but every year that passes is one year less that I can enjoy my passion, and I always try to make the most of it, give 100%.
“And come on, it’s true that the responsibility, what I felt last year was much more. This year I feel the same motivation, but with less responsibility for me, right?
“In the end, if you ride for Ducati Lenovo, you have to fight for victories and you have to fight for the title, but the responsibility I had last year, that weight on my shoulders, now I’m at peace.”
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What does the future hold for Marc Marquez in MotoGP?
Marquez’s contract expires in 2026, with rumours being rife throughout the winter as to where he may end up in 2027. It looks like he will be staying at Ducati, but negotiations may have delayed.
Rumours suggest that Marquez wants a ‘one-plus-one’ deal from Ducati, giving him the option to leave the team at the end of next year. He presumably wants to see where the Borgo Panigale outfit stand with the new regulations.
Marquez was heavily linked with Honda for 2027, but he will only join them if he can win with their bike. By the end of next season, he will know if they do and can make a decision on his future if Ducati are underperforming.
It is also possible that he could call time on his career. Marquez will retire when he cannot finish on the podium in MotoGP, but until then, he will continue to fight for glory.
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