– Marc Marquez has achieved almost everything a racing driver can achieve in his career. Nine titles, countless victories and now also a long-term future with Ducati: At 33, the Spaniard is once again at the top of MotoGP.
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But while many talk about further records and titles for a rider with this record, Marquez is concerned with another question: How do you end a career properly?
In an interview with the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the Ducati rider explains that his biggest challenge is not to collect more trophies. Much more important for him is to be able to decide for himself the right time to retire from active racing.
“My greatest ambition is to decide for myself when the time has come to stop, and at the same time to ensure that it happens at the highest level of enjoyment,” explains the nine-time world champion. He does not want to end his career with frustration because the desired results are not achieved or the speed of previous years can no longer be reached.
Many former champions have told him about difficult final career years, reports the Spaniard. This is not just about physical problems, but also about the mental strain when the usual success suddenly fails to materialize.
“I hope that I ride with joy until the last day and do not suffer,” says Marquez. This very feeling will ultimately be his most important memory of the sport.
After years of pain: “Can enjoy again”
The past years were mainly marked by injuries for Marquez. After breaking his upper arm in 2020, the Honda rider struggled with physical problems for a long time and had to undergo several operations. Only the move to Ducati brought him new sporting and physical opportunities.
Photo gallery: The suffering of MotoGP star Marc Marquez
“Finally, I am at a point where I no longer have pain. Now I can try to have fun,” says Marquez. At the same time, he has learned to adjust his expectations. Because the constant demand to win every weekend can create a new form of pressure.
“If I always expected victory, I would inflict another kind of suffering on myself. That’s exactly what I want to avoid,” explains the Spaniard. He is happy to still be able to use all opportunities, and especially that he can do so in the coming years. He recently confirmed his contract extension with Ducati until the end of 2028.
No career change: “I have chosen my path”
And what comes next? Despite his exceptional position in MotoGP, Marquez feels no longing for a completely new challenge. When asked if he would like to test or if he could also be successful in another motorsport class, he answers clearly and unequivocally.
“No. Because in life you have to choose your path. And I believe I have chosen the right one for me,” says the Ducati rider, who, at least as things stand, is not pursuing a second career in another sports category.
A foray into motorsport would be interesting, but he doesn’t have high hopes for a second career as a world-class driver. “Maybe I’d be a bit good in cars, I don’t know. But for sure I would never be a Hamilton or Verstappen,” Marquez explained with a view to Formula 1.
His admiration for people outside of sports is even greater. Personal heroes are not just successful athletes, but above all doctors and hospital staff.
“People see us riders or other athletes as heroes. My heroes are the doctors, those who work in hospitals.” Through his numerous injuries, he has met many medical professionals. “I wouldn’t have the skills for it, but I would like to be one of those who save human lives.”
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Madrid instead of Andorra: “Those who have more should pay more”
Otherwise, Marquez also shows himself to be quite down-to-earth. While many MotoGP riders move their residence to tax-attractive regions like Andorra or Monaco, the 33-year-old has consciously decided differently. The Spaniard now lives in Madrid and continues to hold on to his hometown of Cervera.
“I had a house in Andorra for almost four years, but I never really lived there and never paid taxes,” explains Marquez. He ultimately used the apartment mainly for his ski equipment. The proximity to Cervera made the move less sensible anyway. He also justifies his decision with a personal stance on taxes and social responsibility.
“If I had twice as much money, would my life change? The answer was no. If I had twice as much in the bank, would my lifestyle change? The answer remained no,” Marquez explains his point of view.
He is aware that by remaining in Spain, he is financially foregoing a part of his potential assets. Nevertheless, this decision is logical for him: “I believe there is a sense of justice, a social awareness: those who have more should pay more. With limits, of course.”
Family as a foundation: The influence of mother and father
Despite all professionalism, Marquez sees his down-to-earth nature strongly shaped by his family. His parents, in particular, have instilled values in him that still accompany him today.
His mother continued to work for a long time despite his great successes, while his father remained active and does not appear as a prominent guest in the paddock, but prefers to travel from Grand Prix to Grand Prix himself in a motorhome.
“A lot comes from them, I believe,” says Marquez. His mother is now retired, but his father is hard to stop. “He is very active, even twice as active as me. You can’t stop him.” He himself is not quite as work-obsessed, however. “If I have to work in the garden, I do it. But if you can avoid it…”, says Marquez with a wink.
As long as victories are possible, ambition and motivation remain
Back to motorsport: Even if Marquez puts the joy of riding above everything else, he doesn’t see his future in simply participating. The Spaniard answers the question of whether he would also be happy as a mid-field rider with nuance.
“At the moment, the answer to that question is a clear no. But in the future, you never know.” The reason is simple: “Not now, because I have proven that I can still win.”
This winning mentality remains despite all the composure. Marquez also refers to the extraordinary dynamic of the current MotoGP season. “If someone had told me that I would close a gap from 102 points to 40 points in two races, I would have said: ‘What have you been drinking?'” he jokes. The close performance density of the championship makes such developments possible.
In the end, however, Marquez is less concerned with numbers than with feeling. He doesn’t just want to ride for as long as possible, but for as long as the sport still brings him joy.
“I cannot imagine living a life like this without motivation and without goals. That’s why I want to end it beautifully, fairly, without suffering,” announces the world champion. “If that’s the case, as I hope, I will stay and want to enjoy this sport even more.”
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