MotoGP Ducati launch

Marc Marquez and Ducati set for two-year MotoGP contract extension

Although the 2026 season is yet to begin, Marc Marquez and Ducati have already agreed on an extension to their existing contract in MotoGP

Marc Marquez has reached an agreement with Ducati to extend his current deal by a further two seasons, covering the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP campaigns, Motorsport.com has learned.

The deal was finalised during Ducati’s team presentation on Monday at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in the Dolomites. The extension will see the reigning world champion remain in Ducati red until at least the end of 2028.

A source familiar with the negotiations has confirmed that the agreement is expected to be made public before the start of the season, which gets underway on 1 March with the Thai Grand Prix. The announcement is likely to coincide with the official MotoGP season launch, scheduled for 7–8 February in Kuala Lumpur, shortly after the conclusion of the first pre-season tests of 2026 at Sepang.

“If you look at my career, whenever I’ve been in a team where I feel comfortable and fast, I try not to move,” Marquez explained during the presentation. “My first option is to stay with Ducati, but you have to take things step by step. Contracts are being signed earlier and earlier."

The financial terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed, but the #93 has opted for a two-year deal as he “still has the motivation fully intact to keep racing and competing at the highest level”, according to the same source. The Catalan rider, who turns 33 on 17 February, would represent Ducati until the age of 35.

After 11 seasons with Honda, Marquez left the Tokyo-based manufacturer in 2024 to join Gresini Racing, a satellite Ducati team, before stepping up to the Bologna marque’s factory squad last season on a two-year contract that expires at the end of this year. As a result, the Spaniard will have spent five seasons aboard the Desmosedici by the extend of the new contract, including four as a factory rider.

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Ducati Corse

With Gresini, Marquez claimed three victories after two winless years, while in his first season with the works team, he secured 11 wins, 15 podiums and eight pole positions, in addition to 15 sprint race victories.

His 2025 campaign, however, ended on a sour note following an accident in Indonesia, where he was taken out by Aprilia rival Marco Bezzecchi. The incident forced him to miss the final four rounds of the season, despite already having secured the title.

With Marquez’s future now settled, Ducati must turn its attention to deciding his team-mate for 2027. Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo and Pedro Acosta are all understood to be in contention for the seat alongside Marquez.

Acosta appears to hold a slight advantage, particularly in light of comments made last week by Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola: “Marc will stay at Ducati, and Pedro has already said he wants a Ducati at all costs, so that pairing is probably already done.”

Asked about his own situation on Monday, Bagnaia said he was relaxed about his future. “I’m calm about my renewal. I just want to start the season well and focus on that. There are many riders whose contracts are ending, and it will be important to stay focused on the championship,” said the Turin-born rider, who, with back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, remains the most successful rider in Ducati’s MotoGP history.

Motorsport.com asked Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi about Rivola’s comments.

“I’m not going to answer or comment on them — today is not the day,” he replied. “But I’m happy to see people talking about Ducati; it means they’re paying close attention to what we’re doing. That’s good to know.”