Marco Bezzecchi
The question of when Marc Marquez will retire from MotoGP has been rumbling for some time, and fans believe the answer may come this year.
The 33-year-old achieved his ambition of winning the MotoGP title again in 2025. Marquez wanted to prove that he could still be competitive after struggling for years with injuries.
It was in 2020 when the first mention of retirement was made when he suffered a serious arm injury at Jerez, and subsequently had multiple setbacks in the following years. Having recovered and found himself at Ducati, he is being asked those questions again in 2026.
Is this why Marc Marquez WON’T win the 2026 MotoGP championship?
Marquez injured his right shoulder in Indonesia last season, which ruled him out for the final four rounds of the season. He went through a gruelling winter period to fully recover, but even after that, he is not at 100% fitness, by his own admission.
Marquez had not recovered as he had hoped during testing, but that did not stop him from qualifying P2 and battling for the Sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix. On Sunday, he was forced to retire after his rear rim exploded while hitting the kerb at turn four.
After the race, Marquez again admitted he was not ‘comfortable’ with his shoulder and was still not at full fitness. It has left fans wondering if he will retire at the end of the 2026 season.
MotoGP fans think Marc Marquez could retire from the sport at the end of 2026
Marquez has said he will retire when he can’t win anymore in MotoGP, but some fans believe that day could be sooner than expected. They discussed on Reddit how 2026 could be his last year in the sport.
One fan said: “I’m leaning towards this being his last season. He just doesn’t look the same. Looks tired. Still able to grind out results when he needs. But it’s looking more difficult. He’s always been a cat with 9 lives. But the last 5 years each injury takes a little bit more off his 100%.”
Another agreed: “I’m also leaning towards this. May be his last season. He really looks not comfortable on that bike. And we see it, well, he must be hating it. I don’t think it’s fun to continue doing something when you are in pain and simply cannot perform as you would otherwise.”
“I think the consensus here is, sadly, correct: the heart may be willing, but the flesh is weak. His injuries are taking their toll. I expect we’re in the final season or two – three at the outside – of his career. If he has another major injury, it may be even sooner than that,” wrote one user.
If you were Marc Marquez, when would you retire?
Another commented: “Depends how bad his shoulder is. He’s going to need it to improve this year if he’s to compete with the Aprilias. If he gets back to his best I can see him doing another three years. If it doesn’t, I can’t see him having major surgery again. This year could be it.”
One user weighed up the possibilities: “Racing will continue after MM in the same way it continues after VR46. No rider is bigger than MotoGP. In terms of how much longer, I’d say he is starting to get tired now. If he feels he is slowing down he’ll quit. I think he’ll take it season by season.”
But another fan simply said: “The writing is on the wall, everyone can see it.” They see 2026 as Marquez’s final year in MotoGP.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend
Where does Marc Marquez currently stand with signing a new contract with Ducati?
Marquez is out of contract in 2026, and he will certainly be considering his options for 2027 and the new regulation cycle.
It has been reported that Marquez has signed a new contract with Ducati, but there has been no official confirmation at this stage. Negotiations have been difficult, as the Spaniard is reluctant to sign a two-year deal due to his injuries and physical condition.
He seems content to take things season by season and sees how he holds up this year before deciding on his future for the 850cc era in 2027.
Marquez excluded himself from his 2027 grid predictions, which was obviously meant as a joke at the time. But now, with him still having problems with his shoulder, that prediction could be very real.
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