Marc Marquez sent stark retirement warning ahead of Acosta's Ducati arrival

The nine-time world champion has had an up-and-down campaign, starting with injury and retirement fears before a miraculous comeback that yielded three wins in four races.

Yet at Silverstone last time out there were signs his renewed title challenge could be short-lived as all four Aprilias were far superior to his Ducati.

Ducati have won the last four riders' and constructors' championships, but it appears as though their dominance has come to an end.

Making the point, renowned MotoGP journalist Ricard Jove told MotoSan: “We have to assess to what extent Ducati's era has ended, and a new era has begun, which it may well be.

Jove then went on to discuss Marquez in particular.

The Spanish legend won his ninth title last year and obliterated teammate Francesco Bagnaia to such an extent that the Italian will leave the team in the winter.

Replacing him will be fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta, who is 11 years his junior and already striking fear into his opponents.

Such a challenge could call into question Marquez’s decision to extend his stay in the sport until the end of 2028.

"I've always maintained that I will never speak, or I will try not to speak, about Marc when he should or shouldn't retire because, frankly, it's his decision, not mine,” Jove commented.

"But it's true that Marc has a lot at stake next year as well. Because it's one thing to retire when he decides and wants to, and another to have the feeling that if your teammate is beating you hard throughout the season, he might force you to retire."

Ultimately, though, Jove thinks it’s too early to make any final evaluations of either Marquez or Ducati.

With so much of the season still to go, we’ll have to wait and see where the championship heads.

He added: “There's no need for such alarm. We shouldn't be so results-oriented. Jorge Martin wasn't finished at Sachsenring, and Marc isn't now either.