Marc Marquez–Ducati, a golden pairing: Tardozzi pushes for a 'lifetime' renewal

Tardozzi spoke clearly about Ducati’s intentions with Marquez: will there be a renewal?

Marc Marquez made all those who had criticized his move to the official Ducati MotoGP team rethink their opinions. The results spoke for themselves: 14 Sprint wins, 11 Race victories, a 9th world title secured. There can be no doubt about his value. The Borgo Panigale manufacturer had none, and in fact chose him over Jorge Martin. A decision that was criticized by some ("a marketing move," some said) and which turned out to be the right one. The Marquez-Ducati pairing worked to perfection in 2025 and will start as the favorite for the 2026 championship as well.

The 32-year-old Spaniard has a contract that expires at the end of next year, like the vast majority of riders on the MotoGP grid. It’s normal that other manufacturers might be interested in signing him; some are already suggesting a Honda push to bring him back to the HRC team, but Ducati has a clear plan.

Team manager Davide Tardozzi spoke to Jugones-La Sexta during the last Grand Prix of the Valencian Community: "I hope Marc ends his career at Ducati. He is a leader within the group. He knows how to handle situations and has been impeccable professionally. I confirm he is a phenomenon. I said it years ago, and that dream has come true."

Ducati aims to renew Marquez’s contract, no doubt about it. Things worked so well in 2025 that there’s no reason not to consider continuing the relationship beyond 2026. It remains to be seen whether the Borgo Panigale brand will try to close a deal as soon as possible—to avoid any risk from potential rival offers—or prefer to wait and see how the pre-season tests go to assess the condition of Marc’s right arm.

As is well known, the rider suffered a serious injury after the crash caused by Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia, so it would be normal for Ducati to want to wait before accelerating negotiations. In any case, Tardozzi has already indicated the Italian team’s intentions. Now it’s just a matter of waiting.