Marc Marquez’s bleak outlook on future MotoGP retirement

Marc Marquez thinks that physical, not mental, motivations will lead him to retire from MotoGP.

Marquez won his ninth world title and seventh in the MotoGP class in 2025. His title-winning career now spans 15 years in total, from his first World Championship success in 2010 in the 125cc class, while in the premier class it is 12 years – longer than any other rider. 

He is one grand prix win shy of a century, and won 11 grands prix in 2025 from only 17 starts. Another 24 wins will make him the most victorious rider in the history of the Motorcycle World Championship, ahead of Giacomo Agostini’s 122 by one and eight clear of Valentino Rossi on 115.

But factory Ducati rider Marquez will be 33-years-old in February, which means his career is approaching the end. It’s something that the Spaniard – whose career has been littered with injuries, including complex shoulder injuries and of course the massive humerus fracture in 2020 – has given some thought to. He has suggested that retirement from MotoGP will be something forced on him by physical factors, rather than something he will psychologically move towards. In effect, his body will stop being able to keep up with his brain.

“For me, the most difficult thing for an athlete is to know when and how to retire,” Marc Marquez said, speaking to Spanish broadcaster La Sexta.

“Whether to lengthen the gum more or not. 

“If there is passion and as long as my body respects it... I know that I am going to retire sooner through the body than mentally”

He added: “So, I have to understand year-by-year how my body is doing. Mentally it goes like a rocket, there is gasoline, but understand how and when to do it.”

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