Marc Márquez stays with Ducati: Contract until 2028 and championship fight

• Contract extension with the Ducati Lenovo Team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons
• 2025: 11 GP wins, 14 sprint wins, world title five races before the end of the season and a record points tally of 545
• 2026: Return after double surgery, currently around 40 points behind the championship leader

Speculation about Marc Márquez’s future had been rife, but now there is clarity. Ducati and the Spaniard have agreed on an extension that prolongs their shared history beyond the year of the manufacturer’s centenary celebrations. The Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer, celebrating its hundredth anniversary in 2026, thus retains the rider who helped them secure the title last year. The agreement ends months of uncertainty, the background of which was closely linked to the rider’s health situation.

What was agreed between Marc Márquez and Ducati?

Marc Márquez and Ducati are continuing their partnership in MotoGP for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. The Spaniard thus remains a rider for the Ducati Lenovo Team and retains his role as the central figure in the factory project. The agreement builds on a connection that, according to the manufacturer, began in early 2024 and has been continued in the factory team since 2025. For Ducati, the extension is, by their own account, the logical decision following the first year together, which ended with the title.

In his statement, Márquez sums up his commitment: “I’m red.” He says he is delighted about the new agreement with the team and wants to remain part of this family. When he chose Ducati, he was convinced it was the most competitive project, and on this foundation of trust and hard work, they had built the relationship.

How did the first year together in the factory team go?

The first year in the factory team was extraordinarily successful for Márquez, culminating in the world championship title. According to the manufacturer, he won eleven Grands Prix and 14 sprints in 2025, secured the riders’ title five races before the end of the season and set an all-time record of 545 points for a single rider in a single season. Ten of these victories were double wins from sprints and Grands Prix, seven of them consecutively. It was the Spaniard’s first title in six years.

A particular symbolic moment arose at the Hungarian Grand Prix 2026. There, according to Ducati, three milestones coincided — a triple hundred. It marked the manufacturer’s centenary, Márquez’s 100th career victory across all classes, and a milestone for the factory team in MotoGP. His career tally comprises 74 victories in MotoGP, 16 in Moto2, and 10 in the 125cc class.

Why did the contract extension take so long?

The extension was delayed primarily because of the rider’s physical condition. According to media reports, Márquez initially wanted to wait and see how his body responded after a phase marked by injuries and surgeries before making a long-term commitment. Only when he was fully competitive again was the final decision about the next chapter of his career to be made.

This caution had concrete reasons. At the Indonesian Grand Prix 2025, the Spaniard crashed heavily after contact with a rival and sustained damage to his right shoulder. Subsequently, a nerve problem developed in his arm. Reportedly, a screw from an earlier surgery pressed on a nerve after the crash at Mandalika, leading to loss of sensation and strength. During the French round at Le Mans, he also broke a metatarsal bone in his right foot. Since shoulder surgery was already scheduled, the doctors opted for a double procedure. During this, two screws and a small bone fragment were reportedly removed, not just one.

How did Márquez fight his way back in 2026?

Márquez returned to the motorcycle faster than expected and quickly rediscovered his former strength. Just under three weeks after the double surgery, he made his comeback at the Mugello race weekend. In the following weeks, he improved steadily and celebrated his first victory since the recent physical setbacks in Hungary. Two weeks later, he won a direct battle against Francesco Bagnaia in Brno.

This success carried extra weight because championship leader Marco Bezzecchi was unable to start due to a suspension. Márquez thus gained 25 points in the second consecutive Grand Prix and reduced his deficit to 40 points. He is now fully back in contention for race wins and the title, which places the contract extension in a sportingly decisive moment.

What does the extension mean for Ducati and the coming years?

For Ducati, the extension means planning certainty during the transition to new technical regulations. With the rules taking effect from 2027, the cards in the field will be reshuffled, and by retaining Márquez, the manufacturer secures a rider who, in the assessment of those responsible, has brought the current motorcycle to a peak level.

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali describes the extension as the most natural decision following their combined results and highlights the Spaniard’s mentality and competitive spirit. General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna says regarding the technical collaboration: “As an engineer, working with Marc has impressed me. He brought the Desmosedici GP to peak performances, enhancing every component.” Placed in the context of the current MotoGP season, the agreement thus extends a project that shapes both the 2026 title fight and the factory team’s direction for the regulation change.

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.

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