Marc Marquez has revealed that issues over his bodily situation have delayed his contract negotiations with Ducati in MotoGP.
Ducati has been keen to increase its relationship with Marquez following his spectacular title-winning marketing campaign in 2025, and has made securing his signature a precedence over finalising its second manufacturing unit seat.
Marquez, for his half, has additionally expressed a want to signal a brand new take care of the Borgo Panigale marque, however the size of their contract has gave the impression to be the primary stumbling block.
It’s understood that Ducati needs to lock the Spaniard right into a two-year deal, till the tip of the 2028 season, whereas Marquez has up to now been cautious about committing past a single yr.
A number of theories have floated as to why Marquez wouldn’t wish to signal a multiple-year deal, together with strategies that he needed to evaluate Ducati’s competitiveness below 850cc rules subsequent yr.
Talking on the Buriram check, Marquez opened up concerning the delays in contract negotiations with Ducati, stating that he’s ready to decide to a two-year extension offered he’s totally glad with the restoration from the shoulder harm that lower brief his 2025 marketing campaign.
“We’re engaged on it with Ducati,” he mentioned about his contract talks. “The best [length] for them is 2 years, as a result of if not, you’re in the course of nowhere.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Crew
Picture by: Gold and Goose Pictures / LAT Pictures / through Getty Pictures
“In the meanwhile, crucial factor for me was to start out the pre-season feeling higher and higher. I really feel a small step, however [it is a tangible] a step between the Malaysia check and right here. So let’s have a look at if I proceed feeling higher with my bodily situation.
“If at this time I really feel a small step in my shoulder and tomorrow one other one, it is not going to be an issue for me for [a] two years [contract].”
Requested to verify if he needed a one-year to gauge his bodily situation, Marquez replied: „Sure. It is my largest limitation. As I all the time say, if you end up injured, you can’t take any determination and signal any contracts.
„I used to be attempting to know my new harm and the way it was. I really feel prefer it’s coming [recovering] in a great way. There’s nonetheless some work to do, nevertheless it’s coming in a great way. So for that cause, we’re working with Ducati in a great way too.“
Only a week after sealing the 2025 MotoGP title, Marquez was taken out by Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi at first of the Indonesian Grand Prix in October.
The incident left him with a fracture on his proper shoulder and he was pressured to take a seat out the rest of the season. After virtually 4 months away, he made his comeback on a MotoGP bike on the Sepang check at first of February, and is making the ultimate preparations for 2026 on this weekend’s Buriram check.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Crew
Picture by: Gold and Goose Pictures / LAT Pictures / through Getty Pictures
Marquez reiterated that a number of main accidents all through his profession have taken a toll on his physique, resulting in longer layoff intervals after every incident.
“For me, it is not getting tougher with age. It is getting tougher with the accidents,” he mentioned. “In the long run, I nonetheless really feel younger on the psychological facet. But it surely’s true that with the accidents, one after one other one after one other one, makes my physique lazier and lazier, and it takes extra time. So for that cause, this winter was tremendous lengthy.
“Nonetheless, we’re engaged on it. After the Thailand race, we’ve two weeks extra [break]. So let’s have a look at if we will proceed on evolution.”
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