Marc Marquez: "I don't need Valentino Rossi

The final race of the 2025 MotoGP season will take place in Valencia in a few days. Marc Marquez clinched the world title in Japan at the end of September and was injured seven days later. The Ducati rider suffered a fracture of the coracoid process and a ligament injury in his right shoulder. But we’ll see him again at Ricardo Tormo...

The Borgo Panigale manufacturer and the world champion have mutually agreed not to take risks, not even at the Valencia MotoGP test. Marquez will still be at the Cheste circuit, but as a spectator. At an event organized by sponsor Estrella Galicia in Madrid, he provided updates on his recovery.

"I haven’t been bored; I haven’t had time for that. In these last few days we’ve focused on slowing down and starting the recovery process," the Spaniard explained. "I had an appointment with the doctors and I’m no longer wearing the brace. I’m starting to get back to my daily routine. I’m continuing to enjoy this wonderful 2025, which gave us this World Championship."

In the interview, he also recalled the moments immediately after the Mandalika incident, following contact with Bezzecchi. "When I felt something in my right shoulder during the fall, I knew something was wrong. That’s when the alarm bells started ringing. I was calm in Indonesia, but inside I was worried," Marquez continued. "When I arrived in Madrid, they immediately saw what had happened. They told me it would take time because both bones and ligaments were affected. We knew we might lose days, but we wanted to be cautious. I woke up on Sunday and I was all swollen."

The new MotoGP champion will test the Ducati GP26 in February. Not being in Valencia on Tuesday doesn’t worry him at all. "The doctors say there will be no permanent damage if I stick to the program. That’s why we’re not pushing too hard," said Marc Marquez. "Being faster in 2026 will depend on my physical condition, not on the fact that I skipped the Valencia tests."

The Sepang test will take place from February 3 to 5, 2026. Will Marquez be there? "It’s impossible to confirm with absolute certainty, but I hope to be back on the bike before then. My recovery is going very well... Next year I’ll definitely have to fight for the title again. But first I have to recover, and my goal is to be 100% in the first week of March, when the world championship begins."

In the coming months he will have to sit down with Ducati management to define his future. He has a contract expiring at the end of 2026, but by spring he’ll have to put pen to paper. "I won’t make decisions while I’m injured or not riding. I’m in a good phase right now; I need to make the right decisions and be selfish," said Marc Marquez. "No one can guarantee you the best bike in 2027 because when the tests take place, everything will already have been finalized. When the final prototypes hit the track, the contracts will already be signed, so you have to make the best of this situation."

It was a busy Tuesday of appointments for the MotoGP star. He also stopped by the set of the Cadena SER program El Larguero. There he also spoke about Valentino Rossi, with whom he can boast the same number of world titles. "I don’t care what he thinks. I care about people who can contribute, add value; outside comments... there will always be morbid curiosity, it’s part of the show, and that also helps sell."

The personal relationship between the two is completely broken and there’s no room for second thoughts. "A friendly greeting if we see each other? No... I can’t lie to you... Each of us does his own thing. He doesn’t need me, nor do I need him, but motorcycling needs both of us."