Marc Marquez (Ducati): “There are athletes who end up hating their sport!”

On 23 June, it was officially confirmed that MotoGP champion Marc Márquez will continue to race for the Ducati factory team in 2027 and 2028. Following his recent successes in Hungary and Brno, where the Spaniard secured three victories, the time was right to set the course for the future.

Although Marquez says he is still not 100 per cent physically, his current condition was enough for him to assess his competitiveness for the next two years. “I’m continuing to race because I love this sport and still want to achieve ambitious goals. I’m convinced that this is the right place to do so,” said MM93 in an official statement.

Marc Marquez’s contract extension was also one of the key topics at the opening press conference in Assen. He was asked how difficult it had been for him to decide to sign for a further two years. As a reminder, a few weeks ago he was still considering a one-year contract, which Ducati did not want.

“I’m very happy that I’ve been able to extend my contract with the Ducati-Lenovo team – it was what I wanted,” said the 33-year-old. “After my injury in Indonesia, the winter wasn’t easy. Nevertheless, Ducati believed in me, and they gave me the time and the trust to think it over calmly. When you’re in the middle of a rehabilitation process, I’ve always said it’s better not to make any decisions about the future. They gave me that time. Mentally, I’m ready for 2027 and 2028. I want to continue enjoying my passion, and that’s MotoGP. I hope – and am confident – that my body will soon be ready too. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been able to prove to myself that, step by step, I’m reaching a level where I can be competitive. But now I want to focus entirely on 2026, because the present is what matters most.”

The goals for the next two years

What ambitious goals does the nine-time champion still want to achieve in his career? “The most ambitious goal is to enjoy my passion in the final years of my career,” Marquez stated clearly. “There are athletes who end up hating their sport by the end of their careers. That’s because, normally, you’re struggling with injuries, pressure or poor results by the end. I want to enjoy it in my final years – that’s the main goal.”

Marc Marquez was one of eleven MotoGP riders who were allowed to test the 850cc bike fitted with Pirelli tyres on Monday this week. What were his first impressions? “First impressions are just first impressions,” he smiled. “You have to pay attention to everything; there’s a lot for the team to do. There are also many things we’ll be facing in next year’s championship. But it wasn’t a bad start,” was the world champion’s brief summary.

This weekend, the action continues with the Assen GP at the TT Circuit. Will Marquez be able to fight for victory again? “Last year I wasn’t the fastest, but I still managed to win. It’s a track where I’ve always had my problems, though – even when I was fully fit. I therefore expect to have more problems this year,” the Ducati rider predicted. “But Brno has shown me that I have to take it day by day. There’s no limit, but there are no targets either. It will, however, be one of the last tracks where I struggle.”

Marquez: “I have a great deal of respect for Pecco – he’s my current team-mate!”

This week also saw the unveiling of Marc Marquez’s new team-mate for 2027 and 2028 – Pedro Acosta. Next year, the experienced champion will have a young and hungry rider by his side. “Pedro was one of the best riders on the market. He would therefore have been a great choice for any team. He’s a fast, young and fresh rider. He’ll be quick right from the start,” said Márquez, addressing Acosta. “But I don’t want to go into any more detail, because I have a great deal of respect for Pecco – he’s my current team-mate!”