Marc Marquez Expected to Retire if MotoGP Champion 2026

JAKARTA - Nine-time world champion Marc Marquez is expected to retire if he manages to win the 2026 MotoGP world championship title, even though the competition on the track at the start of this season was quite heavy for the Spanish rider.

The prediction was made by former Italian MotoGP rider Marco Melandri. He said that The Baby Alien's physical condition was seen to be declining so that his retirement after this year's title would not surprise him.

"That's my view. I wouldn't be surprised if he retired at the end of this season if he manages to secure the 10th Grand Prix title in his career," Melandri said, quoted by Crash.

Marquez won his seventh MotoGP world title last year or ninth overall at the Grand Prix through an impressive performance throughout the season. He got the title after recovering from a serious arm injury that had threatened his career.

The victory put him on a par with Valentino Rossi for the premier class title collection and is only one title behind Giacomo Agostini's all-time record, which he could possibly beat this year.

Last year's title success was accompanied by medical concerns due to a complicated shoulder injury in the 2025 Indonesian MotoGP incident. The accident forced him to miss the rest of the season, but he still topped the standings at the end of the season.

Melandri assessed that Marquez's attempt to lift the world championship title last year had sacrificed himself. However, he did not rule out the 33-year-old rider's chances this year.

"He remains the most versatile rider overall, although his performance may be less explosive than last year. He has given more than 110 percent in 2025," he said.

Marquez's contract with Ducati will expire at the end of this season although he will remain with the Italian manufacturer until 2027. However, the announcement of contracts for all riders seems to have been delayed due to a new commercial agreement with MotoGP.