Neil Hodgson thinks it would be “no surprise” if Marc Marquez retires in 2026, as Ducati MotoGP ace Eric Cantona could make a similar impression when he retires.
Marquez The 33-year-old has faced a number of questions about his future so far, as he is on contract termination notice. Ducati At the end of the 2026 season. The lack of sensation with GP26 and the ongoing impact of the shoulder injury only increased the doubts.
The Spaniard needed surgery last October after suffering a coracoid fracture and ligament damage to his right shoulder as a result of his gravel trip while pulling out of the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix. Seven months and Marquez still can’t drive naturally..
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Neil Hodgson won’t be surprised if Marc Marquez retires if he can’t get back into contention for victory.
Hodgson feels that Marquez has been riding in his own head for most of this year, but is “making mistakes at key points” during the race in a manner not seen since 2015. very recently, Marquez crashed on lap 2 of the Spanish GP While running in seconds.
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A crash in Jerez cost Marquez his best Grand Prix result of the season, retiring in Thailand before finishing P4 in Brazil and P5 in the USA. If Marquez’s early form continues, then Hodgson He will not be surprised if he retires.
Hodgson said. TNT SportsMarc Marquez has undeniably struggled this season. What we don’t know yet is if he’ll fight through that injury and emerge as competitive as he is. But for now, he’s making mistakes at critical points in a race in a way he hasn’t done since 2015.
“Usually what he does is find out by pushing the bike to the limit in practice and going over that peak a couple of times. Then it goes back for the race.”
“When he was interviewed over the years, he was a very loyal rider. He made it clear that he was not interested if it was only third or fourth place in the season, just like Eric Cantona.
“When he (Cantona) retired he was still better than many. But he was not happy with the standards, so he was installed. If the season continues like this, it will not be surprising if he (Marquez) leaves at the end of the season. He is not doing this for money.”
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Cantona retired from football in 1997 after scoring 11 goals in 36 Premier League appearances for Manchester United in his fifth season at Old Trafford. In the year He won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in the 1995/96 season, but decided to retire of his own accord.
Marquez could decide to retire this year, like Cantona, but the Cervera native is widely expected to agree to sign a new contract with Ducati if he hasn’t already. It is said that Marquez signed a new two-year contract Until 2028.
Ducati has not announced Marquez’s new contract, with the Borgo Panigale brand still locked in negotiations with MotoGP over the next five-year commercial deal for the team. Until that deal is signed, neither developer is ready to confirm any activity at this time.
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