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Marc Marquez has revealed that he would have been forced to retire from racing had he chosen to remain with Honda beyond the 2023 MotoGP season. Speaking in an interview with Motosprint, the multi-time world champion reflected on his decision to break his contractual ties with the Japanese factory a year early, explaining that continuing aboard an uncompetitive machine would have left him with no alternative other than concluding his premier-class career.
History with Honda and physical toll
Honda represented the only team the Ant of Cervera had known since entering MotoGP in 2013, initiating one of the most successful partnerships in the history of the sport. Together, they secured six premier-class crowns between 2013 and 2019 before a severe crash at Jerez resulted in a broken right humerus for Marquez. That injury commenced an arduous period of suffering, persistent crashes, and physical setbacks, which coincided with steady regression for the team. Marquez grew increasingly frustrated as it became impossible to ride the motorcycle without crashing, having already begun contemplating stepping away entirely following a violent highside at the 2022 Indonesian round.
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Navigating career splits
The eventual departure from Honda was not the sole major split of his career. A year earlier, Marquez parted ways with Emilio Alzamora, the former rider who originally discovered him and provided the pathway to professional racing. When asked to evaluate which separation proved more painful, Marquez explained that both were difficult. He noted that his association with Alzamora had spanned numerous years and grown closer once competing in the World Championship, enriched by the mentor's experience. However, Marquez felt a clear need for change, maintaining that bringing matters to a close earlier is preferable to dragging things out and ending badly. That split ultimately allowed Marc and his brother Alex to forge a different path oriented toward their futures.
The decision to join Gresini
In contrast, Marquez described his parting from Honda as neither exceptionally easy nor difficult, but fundamentally distinct because staying offered no alternative to retirement. Prior to walking away from competition, he resolved to discover what he could achieve aboard the winning machinery of the era, the Ducati. He subsequently negotiated a switch to the Gresini squad for 2024, cancelling his existing Honda contract for that season. The independent operation agreed to wait patiently for his decision after Marquez communicated that he would not be able to finalise any plans until October.
Ducati revival and contract extension
The transition proved immediately effective, with Marquez quickly finding his groove aboard Gresini's year-old Ducati during the 2024 campaign. That initial success earned him promotion to Ducati's factory team in 2025, where he dominated the world championship by collecting 25 victories across Grand Prix races and Sprints. Marquez will remain with Ducati for the next two years after committing to a new contract in 2026. Although he held conversations with Honda regarding a potential return, those discussions concluded without anything materialising.
Sources: Marc Marquez says he would have ‘retired’ by now if he’d stayed at Honda in 2023.
