MARQUEZ CANNOT EXPLAIN HIS PAST MOTIVATION AND NOW WEIGHS MOTOGP RISKS MORE CAREFULLY

Marc Marquez says he cannot fully explain how he found the motivation to continue racing through years of injuries and setbacks before returning to the top of MotoGP.

The Spaniard has won nine world titles and more than 100 grands prix across a career that began with his first world championship 16 years ago. He claimed six premier-class titles with Honda between 2013 and 2019, but his run of dominance was interrupted by a crash at Jerez in 2020 that broke his right humerus. A premature return was followed by four operations on the arm over the next two years. After a heavy highside in Indonesia in 2022, Marquez initially decided to retire, but instead left Honda for Ducati in pursuit of another title. He achieved that goal in 2025, following a winless stretch of more than 1,000 days as he dealt with injuries and an underperforming Honda.

Speaking on MotoGP’s Helmets Off, Marquez said the hardest part was not winning once, but sustaining the drive to compete year after year. “The 22 MotoGP riders have the talent to do it,” he said of winning a title. “But to do many years in a row and keep going and keep with the same motivation, this is something that I don’t know how I did. I cannot answer.” He wondered whether his energy as a 20- or 21-year-old had helped, adding: “Right now, I cannot explain.”

Marquez said his perspective on risk changed after his injuries. Before 2020, he felt like a “superhero”; the crash taught him that “we are humans” and that circumstances can change suddenly. His right shoulder remains troublesome after a collision with Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia last year, and he said he has now undergone seven operations on it.

“The rider decides where is the line,” Marquez said, explaining that he now weighs the dangers of crashes and injury more carefully. He remains in MotoGP because he has not yet given up mentally and still believes he can be competitive for several years if he wins. But, he noted, the risks are greater than in sports such as football or tennis, making retirement a decision that requires weighing many factors.

Asked when he might stop, Marquez acknowledged that retirement is nearer than it was before, but said he does not know when it will come. “It’s closer than yesterday, yes, but when? I don’t know.” His future has drawn attention as he took time to commit to a new two-year Ducati contract. Andrea Dovizioso has suggested Marquez may not complete the deal and could retire in 2027 if he wins the 2026 championship.