Marc Marquez originally sounded confident about extending his contract with Ducati, but lately, there’s been a noticeable shift in how he’s talking about it.
Back in October, Marquez said there wasn’t any reason to leave Ducati because he was happy where he was. He had just wrapped up his first season with the red factory bike, winning 11 of the first 18 Grands Prix before picking up an injury.
The current MotoGP rule cycle is set to end after the 2026 season. A sweeping set of changes will follow in 2027: engine capacity will drop from 1000cc to 850cc with sustainable fuels coming in; Pirelli will take over as the tyre supplier from Michelin; and aerodynamic regulations and ride-height devices will also be simplified.
That may be why, by November, Marquez had changed his tone: ‘thinking very carefully’ about what comes next. Even Ducati couldn’t promise they’d still have the best bike once all those changes kick in.
Marc Marquez plans to rely on ‘instinct’ for his next MotoGP decision
In a chat with Sport, Marquez has reinforced that nothing is certain heading into 2027. Ducati have won every constructors’ championship since 2020, and the last four world champions have all been aboard Desmosedici bikes, but the sport is about to hit reset.
Marquez continues to say that his decision will be guided by instinct rather than Ducati’s history of success. That’s got to be a worry for Luigi Dall’Igna, who will no doubt want to hold on to the rider many consider the best in the sport.
The Spaniard, who turns 33 in January, hinted that he needs immediate results now more than ever and doesn’t have time for long-term projects like he did at 25.
“Right now, I’m completely focused on 2026,” Marquez said when asked about how he sees the 2027 MotoGP landscape. “During the next season, many pieces of the MotoGP puzzle will start to shift. The future is uncertain and we’ll see.”
Honda looks like the front-runner if Marc Marquez leaves Ducati
Marquez seems set to take his time before making a decision as his current deal with Ducati nears its end, which could have a major impact on how the MotoGP rider market shapes up.
Until Marquez makes up his mind, it’s hard to see any team making firm decisions about their line-ups. No one wants to risk missing out on the chance to bring in a seven-time premier-class champion.
Carlo Pernat has suggested that Honda would offer a huge financial package for Marquez to come back, but the rider has always maintained that money isn’t what drives him.
If he does choose to move on from Ducati, though, Honda’s history and connection with him make them an obvious landing spot.
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