Marco Bezzecchi
Confirmation of Marc Marquez’s contract extension at Ducati for 2027 and beyond is yet to come, and he has been playing mind games as to when it will land.
With almost every rider out of contract in 2026, the MotoGP rider market was bound to be chaotic. Marquez is at the centre of it, with rumours being rife as to where he would end up in 2027.
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Honda have been linked with Marquez in what would be a sensational return for the Spaniard. However, it is believed that Marquez has already signed his new Ducati contract, putting pen to paper during the Sepang test.
It is understood that Marquez wants a one-year deal from Ducati, as he did not want to commit to a longer contract following his injury in 2025. The exact details of the agreement have not been confirmed, and an announcement is pending.
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Marc Marquez privately hints that his Ducati contract has not been renewed
MotoGP teams are holding off on announcing their rider signings until they reach a deal with Dorna over the new Concorde Agreement. Multiple transfers have already been made, including Pecco Bagnaia to Aprilia, Fabio Quartararo to Honda and Pedro Acosta to Ducati.
Speaking on the NicoabadTV YouTube channel, journalist Mela Chercoles spoke to Marquez during the Brazilian GP weekend about his contract announcement, and the 33-year-old was keen to play games over the ordeal.
Asked when it will be announced, Chercoles said: “As soon as this administrative deadlock is resolved, the manufacturers are still in talks with the championship organiser to reach a new agreement regarding the revenue that the manufacturers and teams will receive, aren’t they?
“For example, the other day when I was talking to Márquez about this, the bloke was joking around – I don’t know if it was Friday or Saturday, I think it was Friday – telling me: ‘If my deal were done, it would have been announced by now.’
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“I say: ‘How can it be announced if there’s an administrative silence?’ He says: ‘It would have been announced.’ He says: ‘Anyway, it’s better this way so you lot can keep talking about it on your podcasts and in your stories.’
“And the bloke was joking around; he’s leaving the door open to the possibility that he hasn’t renewed with Ducati yet. They tell me, they assure me he’s renewed, and what’s more, they even gave me the date, which was after the Sepang test.
“But anyway, let’s just leave it on standby for now. I know Pedro Acosta and Marc Márquez are going to be teammates at Ducati next season.
“I think he’s ready; as you say, the press release is there, and it’s just a matter of time before they announce it and we can celebrate, because that team really is something to celebrate.”
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