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Tardozzi Confirms Marquez Contract Commitment Through 2028
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has no worries about Marc Marquez retiring in 2026, noting that the rider holds an agreement with the squad for the next two years covering 2027 and 2028. Marquez placed himself on the verge of claiming his 10th Grand Prix title after securing a dominant victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang ahead of Pedro Acosta and his brother Alex Marquez. While that result gave the Spaniard match point for the 2026 MotoGP title in Qatar, questions had arisen regarding whether he will continue racing after 2026. When asked about this on TNT Sports 2 after the race, Tardozzi expressed no concerns regarding Marquez stepping away, confirming: "I'm sure that he will be with us."
Ducati Manager Details Physical Limitations and Daily Focus
Tardozzi conceded that Marquez continues to suffer physically despite his performances on track. The Ducati team manager noted that Marquez is not at 100 percent, explaining that his right shoulder and the right part of his arm are not perfect. According to Tardozzi, Marquez compensates for these physical limitations through his mindset and focus. He highlighted the rider's intense daily work across gym routines, general training, and riding road bikes on smaller race tracks, remarking that he had never previously seen anyone maintain such continuous focus on the result throughout every minute of the day.
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Injury Recovery and Historic Points Comeback from Mugello
Marquez has conserved his fitness to get back in the title fight during a campaign plagued by injuries. The Ant of Cervera entered the year without having fully recovered from a crash in Indonesia the previous year, which left him suffering from nerve damage in his right arm. An additional crash at Le Mans broke his foot and forced him to undergo surgery. Having faced a 102-point deficit when he returned to racing at Mugello following that Le Mans accident, claiming the 2026 title would represent the biggest comeback in MotoGP history.
Career Caution and Dovizioso Retirement Doubts
Mindful that another major accident could hamper his championship chances and potentially end his career, Marquez has exercised caution this season, including refusing to attend a promotional go-kart event in Japan. He had also been initially hesitant about signing his two-year agreement with Ducati through 2028 because of his fitness, harboring doubts about how long he could race for. While securing the title remains his primary priority, outside skepticism regarding his plans continues. Andrea Dovizioso does not think Marquez will honour the contract, suggesting a scenario where the rider could retire after winning the championship.
Malaysian GP Result Establishes Qatar Title Match Point
Jorge Martin's withdrawal from the Malaysian Grand Prix put Marquez 44 points clear heading into the next race in Qatar. Meanwhile, Martin's Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi could only manage P6 in Sepang, leaving him 67 points behind the championship leader. Following his dominant Sepang victory ahead of Acosta and Alex Marquez, Marquez heads to the Qatar Grand Prix with match point to settle the 2026 title, providing an opportunity to seal his 10th Grand Prix championship.
