Marco Bezzecchi
Neil Hodgson thinks it would “be no surprise” if Marc Marquez retires in 2026, as the Ducati MotoGP ace could make the same realisation as Eric Cantona when he retired.
Marquez has often faced questions about his future so far this term, as the 33-year-old is on paper set to be out of contract with Ducati at the end of the 2026 season. His lack of feeling with the GP26 and the ongoing effects of his shoulder injury have only increased the doubts.
The Spaniard required surgery last October after sustaining a coracoid fracture and ligament damage in his right shoulder as a result of his trip through the gravel when he was taken out of the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix. Seven months on and Marquez still cannot ride naturally.
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Neil Hodgson would not be surprised to see Marc Marquez retire if he cannot return to fighting for wins
Hodgson feels Marquez has often been riding within himself so far this year, but he has also been “making mistakes at critical points” during races in a way that has not been seen since 2015. Most recently, Marquez crashed on Lap 2 of the Spanish GP whilst running in second.
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His crash at Jerez cost Marquez a chance to score his best Grand Prix result of the season so far, after he also retired in Thailand due to a puncture before he finished P4 in Brazil and P5 in the USA. If Marquez’s early form lasts, then Hodgson will not be shocked if he retires.
Hodgson told TNT Sports: “There’s no denying that Marc Marquez has struggled this season. What we don’t know yet is if he’s battling through that injury still, and he’ll come out just as competitive as he was. For now, he’s making mistakes at critical points of races in a way he has not done since 2015.
“What he normally does is push the bike to its limit in practice sessions, and find that edge by going over it a couple of times. Then he pulls back just behind it for the races.
“Over the years, he’s been a hugely honest rider when interviewed. He’s made it clear that if his season is just third and fourth place, it holds no interest for him. It’s like Eric Cantona.
“When he [Cantona] retired, he was still better than most. But he wasn’t happy with his standards, so he packed up. If the season continues like this, it would be no surprise if he [Marquez] walked away at the end of the season. He’s not doing it for the money.”
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Cantona retired from football in 1997, on the back of scoring 11 goals in 36 Premier League games for Manchester United during his fifth season at Old Trafford. He had won the FWA’s Footballer of the Year award in the 1995/96 season, but decided to retire on his own terms.
Marquez could decide to retire on his own terms, like Cantona did, this year, but it is widely expected that the Cervera native will agree to sign a new contract with Ducati, if he has not signed it already. It is said that Marquez has signed a new two-year contract through 2028.
Ducati have not announced Marquez’s new contract yet given the Borgo Panigale brand are still locked in negotiations with MotoGP about the next five-year commercial agreement for the teams. Until that deal is signed, no constructor is currently ready to confirm any moves.
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