Marc Márquez is revving up for the 2026 MotoGP season with a newfound sense of calm and resilience, having accomplished what many deemed unattainable. After clinching his ninth world championship title in 2025, the Ducati rider is ready to put the shadows of past injuries behind him. At 33, the Catalan racer approaches this season, which has already kicked off in Thailand, not with the singular obsession of breaking the historical records set by legends like Giacomo Agostini or matching Valentino Rossi, but with an invigorated passion for riding and a relentless desire to compete at the highest level.
In a revealing interview with the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Márquez opened up about his emotional journey toward the championship he secured last year, the ongoing rivalry with his brother, and his aspirations for the current season. The road to his ninth title has been anything but straightforward. After enduring over three years filled with surgeries and a troubling lack of results while with Honda, Márquez expressed that his victory in 2025 was a monumental emotional release. “From the outside, it seemed easy or automatic, but for me, it was not at all. Returning to win after so many years of uncertainty was a long, hard process full of doubts. I had to accept that I was no longer the same rider I was before the injuries, and to return to a high level, I needed to adapt, be smarter, and be patient. The first victory wasn’t just a sports joy; it was a huge relief. It was like telling myself, ‘Okay, I can still do it.’”
Márquez emphasized that while racing, his focus has never been on surpassing the achievements of Rossi or Agostini. Instead, it has always revolved around the pure joy of riding. “I never went onto the track thinking that I could match another rider. My goal has always been to win, enjoy myself, and give it my all.”
Reflecting on his lengthy struggle with injuries and the resulting lack of performance, doubts about his future in elite racing weighed on him significantly. Márquez candidly admitted that the thought of retiring crossed his mind during those challenging years. “During those five tough years, I thought about retiring. It wasn’t a constant thought, but in the most difficult moments, when you see no progress and every operation seems to prolong the uncertainty, it’s inevitable to ask yourself: ‘Is it really worth continuing?’ I remember two specific moments: after the third surgery on my arm, and when I got back on the bike for the first time, and the pain was still there. However, retiring never became a concrete decision. It was an idea, yes, but not a plan.” He explained that while it’s natural to ponder such things, there was always a flicker of hope inside him urging him to keep pushing forward. “As long as there was a chance, no matter how small, I couldn’t give up. In the end, hard work and patience paid off,” Márquez shared honestly.
Now, his motivation for the season is no longer solely about expanding his trophy collection. When asked about his future and a potential end date to his career, he responded thoughtfully, emphasizing a shift toward a more personal view of the sport. “I want to keep having fun and feeling competitive. That’s my true driving force. After everything I’ve been through, it’s no longer just about winning for the sake of winning; it’s about feeling I’m at my best, proving I can still compete with the top riders. I’m also looking for something more personal: enjoying the journey. In the past, I only focused on the results; now, I evaluate every step, every progress, every battle on the track. I want to continue growing as a rider and as a person, and do it in a way that makes me happy. In short, I want to keep competing at the highest level and do it in a fulfilling way.”
Márquez also addressed the unique experience of competing against his brother in a world championship, with both siblings finding themselves at the top of the standings. Rather than creating tension, Marc described how they manage their sibling bond in the heat of competition. “At the beginning of last year, it was strange because we weren’t used to sharing the podium; it was something we had never seen before. In the end, he’s your little brother, the one you grew up with, shared a room with, traveled with, everything. But when the visor drops, he’s no longer just your brother; he’s another rider, someone who wants to beat you, and you want to beat him, and that happens naturally. After the race, much depends on how it went. If we both had a good race, we talk immediately, analyze, joke around. If one of us had a bad day, we each take our time to cool off. Last year’s rivalry, instead of pushing us apart, brought us closer than ever. And that is another one of the victories of the season.”
As the new season unfolds, expectations for Ducati’s performance remain sky-high. However, the reigning champion is cautious, anticipating fierce competition across the grid. “Ducati has been doing a great job for years, and the grid is filled with their bikes, but the other brands have also made significant progress. Aprilia, KTM, and Honda won’t be sitting idly by, and every season brings surprises. As for the toughest rivals… there will be many. The category is very tight. Obviously, the Ducati riders will be strong: Pecco and Alex will be right there. I also expect Bezzecchi and Martin to be competitive, as well as Acosta and Viñales.”
When reflecting on the strongest rivals throughout his career, Márquez found it difficult to single anyone out. “I can’t choose just one. My reference when I arrived in MotoGP was always Dani Pedrosa, because he was my teammate, had experience, and was like a mirror I could reflect on. But I’ve been fortunate to compete against an incredible generation of riders like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Pedrosa himself, Andrea Dovizioso, and then Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia, and even my brother Alex. What I take away is that all these battles help you grow and elevate your level.”
As Márquez gears up for the challenges of the 2026 season, one thing is clear: the speed demon is not just back; he’s more determined than ever to make his mark in the annals of MotoGP history. Fans and competitors alike are in for an exhilarating ride this season.
