Marc Marquez explains Ducati delay as retirement talk intensifies after shoulder setback

13:00, 23 Feb

byAndrew McLarney

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has explained the reason for his delays in resigning for Ducati as he weights up his options from retirement to a multi-year extension.

The uncertainty around Marquez's future has caused all kinds of knock-on effects around the paddock from delaying some rider moves to forcing others.

Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi has said that it the team's priority to resign the world champion, while Marquez himself has been very quiet and typically secretive on the issue.

There has been much speculation about whether Marquez will retire at the end of the season after he suffered a crash with Marco Bezzecchi which aggravated a long-term shoulder injury for the Spaniard.

"We are working on it with Ducati, but the ideal for them is two years because, if not, you are in the middle of nowhere [between contract cycles]," Marquez told the media at the Buriram test this weekend, "But at the moment, the most important thing for me was to start the pre-season feeling better and better. [...] I feel a small step, but a step, between Malaysia test and here."

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

"So, let’s see if I feel better with my physical condition, and if I feel like today, where I felt a small step in my shoulder, and tomorrow another one, it will not be a problem for me to sign a two-year contract."

"It’s [the injury] my biggest limitation. It’s what I learned: when you are injured, you cannot make any decisions and sign any contracts."

Marquez performed solidly throughout pre-season testing despite a hattrick of crashes on the final day of testing. Despite the falls, he appeared uninjured and ready compete next weekend at the opening round of the season.