Marc Márquez is looking to the future with the awareness of someone who has already written MotoGP history. The seven-time world champion has admitted that retirement could come sooner than expected, not because of a lack of motivation, but due to the physical limits his body may impose in the coming years.
At 32 years old, the Spanish rider is coming off one of the most remarkable comeback stories in modern motorcycle racing. Last season he claimed his seventh premier-class title, five years after the serious arm injury in 2020 that had put his career at risk. Despite missing the final four rounds of 2025 due to a shoulder injury, Márquez heads into the 2026 season as the overwhelming favourite to win the championship.
His future is also a hot topic for contractual reasons. His current deal with Ducati expires at the end of the season, just ahead of the major rule reset scheduled for 2027. While a renewal with the Bologna-based manufacturer is widely expected, the subject of retirement emerged clearly during an interview with Spanish broadcaster La Sexta.
“The hardest thing for an athlete is knowing when and how to retire,” Márquez explained. “I already know that I will retire sooner, because my body will push me harder than my mind. Mentally I feel extremely strong, but I will have to evaluate year by year how my body responds.”
The Catalan rider also pointed out that, despite the many risks taken throughout his career, injuries have been relatively “kind” to him until this final stage of his journey. A fragile balance that time could eventually break.
During the same interview, Márquez also spoke about his private life and his recently expressed desire to become a father. However, that dream does not extend to wanting a child to follow in his footsteps on the racetrack.
“I wouldn’t like it if my child became a racer,” he admitted. “Carrying my last name would be a huge burden. They would have some advantages, financially for example, but they wouldn’t lack anything, and when you don’t lack anything, you don’t have the same hunger.”