Marc Marquez: 'I'd sign to retire now' with one guaruntee

Like many riders on the grid, Marquez's current contract will expire at the end of 2026. After his sensational return to the top of the championship in 2025, Marquez overcame the most difficult challenge of his career and won his seventh-premier class title, putting him equal with Valentino Rossi.

However, an injury to his already troubled right shoulder at the Mandalika Circuit in the Indonesian Grand Prix appears to have made Marquez prioritise his health over chasing further glory.

"When you're injured, you're in a cage. But as soon as the doctor opens it a little, you immediately escape." he told Spanish radio show Onda Cero. "In those three years of injuries, I matured twice as much as in ten years of winning."

"I'd sign to retire without any more injuries. I'd sign for that right now. Then winning another world championship? I'll obviously try.”

Marquez had a mixed start to the 2026 season in the Thai Grand Prix. While he performed well in the sprint race, a penalty ultimately foced him to concede the victory to KTM's Pedro Acosta.

On Sunday, Marquez had even worse luck as a rear-tyre failure forced him to retire on Lap 21. He also suffered numerous minor crashes in testing and practise sessions, but pulled out his best performance during the critical qualifying session.

"I already understood in the Buriram test that in some moments, especially in right corners, I'm not able to save it. I lose the bike." He said, "I'm still not riding the bike like I want. So I need to keep improving my physical condition, together with my riding style."

"The entry of the corner at the moment, I'm not feeling good. [...] The braking position… And if you don't brake in a good position, then you are not in the perfect position in the middle of the corner."

"The operation affected the pectoral and deltoid muscles, where I need more 'push' under braking."