Marc Marquez admits his physical fitness will ultimately determine when his MotoGP career ends, with several major crashes taking their toll on his body.
With nine world titles, including seven MotoGP titles, Max is one of the most successful riders in the history of motorcycle racing. However, his career has also been marred by multiple injuries, most notably a fracture to his right arm suffered in Jerez in 2020 that required four surgeries.
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Although the 2025 season marked a return to championship form, his resurgence was once again interrupted when Aprilian rival Marco Bezzec crashed into him at the Indonesian Grand Prix, forcing him to undergo further surgery.
After recuperating during the winter break, Marquez is expected to renew his contract with Ducati until the end of the 2028 season, when he will be 36 years old.
In an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta, which produced a special about his story of overcoming adversity, Marquez revealed a little-known side of him and touched on several personal aspects.
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“The hardest thing for an athlete is knowing when and how to retire and how long you can keep going,” he said.
“I already knew I was going to retire early because my body would force me to do it, not my mind. We are in a sport where, even though I risked everything, injuries respected me very much until the end. Every year I have to understand where I am physically because mentally I am like a rocket.”
Marc Marquez, Ducati Racing Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Racing Team
Max returned to cross-country cycling training in December after a physical examination revealed that the callus on his shoulder fracture had completely consolidated. He also raced a Panigale V4 superbike at the Aspa circuit in Valencia earlier this month.
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The Spaniard aims to be in top physical condition for the first Test of 2026, which will be held in Sepang from February 3 to 5. Marquez therefore reflected on his accident in Indonesia, which marked the latest setback in the most complicated period of his career.
“When you’re injured, you go through three periods,” he said. “First of all, you don’t want to know anything about anyone, you’re devastated. I won the last world title and I was at home for three weeks and didn’t see anything. The pain makes you ‘grumpy’ and you take it out on those close to you.
“Then there’s a period where you think you’re good enough but you’re not. That’s when they stopped me and I allowed myself to be stopped. The last stage is the one that requires patience. You want to ride the bike but you can’t.”
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Also read:
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Marc Marquez is one win shy of 100 wins and three shy of Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP record
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