Marc Marquez Could Make Early MotoGP Exit

MotoGP paddock veteran Carlo Pernat believes Marc Marquez could walk away from the championship a year earlier than planned due to the mounting pressure and demands placed on riders.

Pernat has been a fixture in motorsport for decades. Since 1979, he has worked with brands such as Gilera, and later Cagiva and Aprilia, across both motocross and road racing. In recent years, he has managed the careers of riders including Marco Simoncelli, Tony Arbolino, and Enea Bastianini.

The Italian expert has followed Marquez throughout most of his career and believes the Spaniard's triumph at the Malaysian Grand Prix has virtually sealed his tenth world title, even if it is not yet mathematically guaranteed.

Pernat added that he expects Marquez, whose contract with Ducati runs through the end of 2028, to step away as early as the end of next season. He cited the growing demands introduced by the championship's new commercial rights holders, Liberty Media, which are having a major negative impact on the riders.

For a rider like Marquez, who has competed as a factory entrant throughout his 14-year MotoGP career and left an indelible mark on the sport, continuing under an ever-growing workload is becoming far less appealing. That is particularly true given the severe physical trauma his body has endured since 2020.