Marc Marquez has revealed why the prospect of signing an extension to his existing Ducati deal “scared” the Spaniard after securing his seventh MotoGP world title last year.
Ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Ducati has confirmed that Marc Marquez will stay Into a new era for the sport next year with the factory MotoGP team. He has reportedly signed a two-year contract until the end of the 2028 campaign.
Ducati must issue team orders to ensure Marc Marquez secures the 2026 MotoGP title.
It was widely expected Marquez There was still a mystery surrounding what the reigning world champion had planned for himself in the future, to remain the Bullet of Bologna.
Retirement and a return to Honda were both offered to Marquez, and the Spaniard himself has now revealed why he was “scared” to sign the new deal.
Marc Marquez reveals why he was ‘scared’ to sign Ducati contract extension.
In an interview with Sky Italia In the Dutch Grand Prix paddock, Marquez was asked about the latest news regarding his commitment to stay with the Italian manufacturer for another two years.
It is expected that the Spaniard will continue to compete in the famous red shirt Ducati At least until he was 35, but he admits his career longevity was “horrendous.” In last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix, he injured his shoulder.
How do you cope with being Marc Marquez’s teammate?
“It was a very difficult decision because it’s not just choosing a team, it’s deciding whether to continue racing or call it a day,” he said, referring to his new contract with Ducati, before accepting his relationship with Honda.
“A lot of people said I was going 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 the biggest shock for me. I said yes and then I couldn’t ride a fast bike. Ducati waited for me, they gave me their faith and their time, and I saw that as a big sign of respect. And then we started talking, I felt better and better, and here we are.”
In the year Looking ahead to 2027, Marquez got his first taste of the Ducati 850cc prototype and Pirelli’s new tires during the season test at Brno after the Czech Grand Prix final.
In typical Marquez fashion, he quickly found his limit after suffering a crash in the morning test session. The 33-year-old mentioned his retirement after being asked by the Italian broadcaster to give his opinion on MotoGP’s new rules.
He said: “I was the first one to crash. The tires make a bigger difference than the bike, the bike changes a bit, but it’s still a bike. But with Pirellis, it changes a lot, and even as a team we still have to work on how to use them.”
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