Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has been suggested to be in the twilight of his career as a competitor on the MotoGP grid, but has ruled out replicating Valentino Rossi by swapping two wheels for four after retiring from the sport.
After becoming the oldest MotoGP world champion with his seventh title feat last year, much has been said about the future of Marc Marquez in the premier class.
The Spaniard has suffered a multitude of different injuries in recent years, with his high-profile right humerus fracture in 2020 marking the start of a nightmare that took him three years to wake up from.
Do you agree with Marc Marquez’s opinion on MotoGP and F1 sharing a race weekend?
If so, which Grand Prix should they try it at first?
A broken collarbone sustained last year has hindered the opening round of his title defence in 2026, with former MotoGP rider Alex Barros predicting Marquez to call it quits as early as the end of this season.
MotoGP fans are in agreement over Marquez’s retirement date, too.
The official social media accounts of the premier class uploaded a video in which the factory Ducati star predicted the grid for next season, with fans deciphering Marquez’s decision to omit himself from the line-ups as a clear signal of his intentions.
Marc Marquez rules out replicating Valentino Rossi’s GT racing exploits after MotoGP
In an appearance on the Pelas Pistas podcast ahead of MotoGP’s return to Brazil this weekend, Marquez was asked whether or not he has considered replicating Valentino Rossi’s exploits in GT racing if he does happen to call it quits at the end of this year.
Having tested Formula 1 machinery during his active riding career in the premier class, Rossi ramped up his efforts on four wheels following his retirement from two.
The seven-time MotoGP world champion has since taken part in several prestigious races in the Grand Touring category, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Bathurst 12 Hours.
Which of the current MotoGP grid would beat prime Valentino Rossi today?
In response to the query, Marquez said, “That’s an interesting question, because I know I’ll be ending my sporting career on two wheels. I’m limited more by my body than by my mind.
“So, perhaps, when it’s over, I’ll want to keep feeling the adrenaline. Adrenaline is competition. It’s created through training, it’s created through competition, but I don’t know.
“Right now, though, I’m only thinking about two wheels. It’s true that I’ve had a lot of injuries in the latter part of my sporting career, but I’m still performing well.
“So, as long as I’m still performing well, I’m putting in extra hours at work, lots of hours with the physio and more work than before, but we’re doing fine.”
- READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia rubbishes Valentino Rossi’s claim that his Ducati woes are because of Marc Marquez
Francesco Bagnaia thinks Marc Marquez has ‘one thing in common’ with Valentino Rossi
In a recent interview, Marquez’s Ducati counterpart, Francesco Bagnaia, compared the two nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champions after working closely with them both.
Bagnaia has enjoyed Rossi’s wisdom from spending the majority of his career as a member of the VR46 Riders’ Academy, while Marquez has also attempted to aid Bagnaia’s adaptation woes at Borgo Panigale over the last 12 months.
The Italian rider believes that despite their fierce rivalry, Marquez and Rossi share the same kind of determination that has helped them both become such illustrious figures in the landscape of two-wheeled racing.
Marquez has slowly been clawing away at Rossi’s records in MotoGP since The Doctor’s retirement in 2022, with Rossi’s all-time Grand Prix victory record seemingly in sight for him this year.
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