MARQUEZ SAYS STAYING AT HONDA WOULD HAVE ENDED HIS CAREER
28 Oct 2026·
Marc Marquez says leaving Honda was essential to continuing his MotoGP career: had he stayed with the manufacturer beyond 2023, he believes he would have had to retire.
The Spaniard joined Honda in 2013 and won six premier-class titles with the team from 2013 to 2019. But a crash at Jerez that left him with a broken right humerus marked the start of a difficult period. Marquez endured further crashes and injuries as Honda’s competitiveness declined, and he became increasingly frustrated at being unable to ride the bike without crashing. After a highside in Indonesia in 2022, he had already considered retirement.
Speaking to Motosprint, Marquez compared his Honda departure with an earlier separation from Emilio Alzamora, the former rider who discovered him and guided his route into professional racing. Asked which split had hurt more, he said both were difficult. He recalled that he and Alzamora had spent many years together and grown closer when he entered the World Championship, adding that Alzamora’s experience had taught him a great deal.
“On matters like this, I believe it’s better to bring things to a close a little sooner rather than drag it out and end it badly,” Marquez said. After the split, he and his brother Alex “forged a different path, with an eye to the future too.”
His Honda exit, he explained, was different from ending that long personal and professional relationship. “I had no alternative, as if I hadn’t left Honda, I would have had to retire.” Before stopping, he wanted to find out what he could do on the Ducati, which was then the winning bike. He joined Gresini for 2024, saying the team had waited while he delayed making a decision until October.
The move quickly revived his fortunes. Marquez adapted to Gresini’s year-old Ducati, then joined the factory team in 2025 and dominated the championship, taking 25 wins across Grands Prix and Sprints. He committed to Ducati for a further two years in 2026. Although he also spoke with Honda about a possible return, no deal came together.