Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez’s protege, Maximo Quiles, has revealed that the Ant of Cervera told him that he would wait for him to get to MotoGP before he calls time on his career.
Quiles is making waves in the MotoGP paddock. The 18-year-old Spanish rider finished third in his first season of Moto3 in 2025, winning three races and grabbing nine podiums.
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After four rounds in 2026, Quiles is top of the standings, having finished in the top two in every race, winning at Goiania and Jerez.
He is proving to be an incredible prospect, and he has a great support network around him. Quiles is represented by Vertical Management, an agency founded by the Marquez brothers, and Marc made a promise to his young rider.
Marc Marquez told Maximo Quiles ‘I’ll wait for you’ to get to MotoGP
Speaking to SPORT, Quiles revealed that Marc Marquez told him that he would wait for him to reach MotoGP before he retires.
Asked if he hopes to share the track with Marc and Alex Marquez, he said: “Yes, we talked. Last year Marc told me, ‘Come on, I’ll wait for you, I’ll wait for you, but you have to climb quickly.’
“I remember saying, ‘Wow, for him to say that to me, to have faith that I can make it’… that motivated me a lot. I’m eager to keep progressing, keep learning, and keep climbing, because that’s the goal, and hopefully, I’ll be able to meet him someday.”
Marc Marquez’s contract is up in 2026. Rumours have suggested that he will be staying with Ducati next year, but the length of the deal, and whether he has actually signed it at all, is up in the air.
The Spaniard is struggling with his fitness in 2026, with the effects of his 2025 shoulder injury still plaguing him. Chicho Lorenzo thinks Marquez will soon be ‘forced’ into retirement, as his body cannot take many more crashes.
Marquez told Giacomo Agostini he would retire if he finishes ‘fifth or sixth’. He is likely to want to try the 850cc bikes in 2027, but when Quiles makes it to MotoGP is another question.
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Could Maximo Quiles join MotoGP in 2027?
With Quiles being a championship favourite in Moto3 this season, and with him being backed by the Marquez brothers, a move to MotoGP seems inevitable.
In fact, it was even reported that Quiles could join Gresini in 2027 and replace Alex Marquez following his move to KTM.
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However, that rumour has now gone quiet, with Daniel Holgado set to replace Marquez in 2027. Enea Bastianini is also being linked with the Ducati satellite team, making Quiles’ chances of jumping to MotoGP unlikely.
A step up to Moto2 in 2027 seems like the next natural step, with the prospect of heading to MotoGP in 2028. However, it is unknown whether Marc Marquez will still be on the grid by then.
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