Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has revealed why the thought of signing an extension to his existing Ducati deal “terrified” the Spaniard after he secured his seventh MotoGP world title last year.
Ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Ducati confirmed that Marc Marquez would remain with the factory MotoGP team into the sport’s new era of regulations next year. He has been reported to have signed a two-year deal through to the end of the 2028 campaign.
Prove us wrong, Ducati should impose team orders to ensure Marc Marquez wins the 2026 MotoGP title
While it was widely expected for Marquez to remain a Bologna Bullet, there was still an aura of mystique surrounding what the reigning world champion truly had planned for himself in the future.
Retirement and a return to Honda had both been touted for Marquez, and the Spaniard himself has now revealed the reason why he was “terrified” to sign his new deal.
- READ MORE: Davide Tardozzi shares Marc Marquez’s private reaction when Ducati told him they signed Pedro Acosta
Marc Marquez reveals why he was ‘terrified’ to sign Ducati contract extension
In an interview with Sky Italia inside the Dutch Grand Prix paddock, Marquez was asked about the recent news regarding his official pledge to remain with the Italian constructor for two more years.
The extension is expected to see the Spaniard continue to race in the famous red overalls of Ducati until he is 35 years old at the very least, but he has admitted that the longevity of his career “terrified” him after injuring his shoulder at last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix.
How would you handle being Marc Marquez’s teammate?
“It was a very difficult decision, because it wasn’t just about choosing a team, but about deciding whether to carry on racing or call it a day,” he said in reference to his new deal with Ducati, before acknowledging the links to Honda.
“Lots of people said I’d go back to Honda, but I was happy where I was, and when you’re happy and riding well, you have to stay there. After Indonesia, we started talking about it, but I wanted to wait, mainly to see how my arm would react.
“That was what terrified me most: saying yes and then no longer being able to ride a fast bike. Ducati waited for me, gave me their trust and time, and I saw that as a great sign of respect. And then we started talking, I felt better and better, and here we are.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Marquez got his first taste of Ducati’s 850cc prototype and Pirelli’s new tyres at an in-season test at Brno after the conclusion of the Czech Grand Prix.
In typical Marquez fashion, he quickly found the limit by suffering a crash in the morning session of the test. The 33-year-old referenced the off after being asked by the Italian broadcaster for his thoughts on MotoGP’s new regulations.
He said, “I was the first to crash. The tyres make the biggest difference, more so than the bike itself. The bike changes a bit, but it’s still a bike. With the Pirellis, however, it changes a lot, and even as a team we still need to work out how to make the most of them.”
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
