Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has offered insight into his highly anticipated contract extension with Ducati, revealing that negotiations are progressing well despite a temporary halt requested by the Spanish rider.
Following his triumphant debut season with Ducati Lenovo Team, where he secured his ninth world title, Marquez appears set to remain with the Italian manufacturer for the upcoming 850cc/Pirelli era. The deal has been one of the most expected moves in the MotoGP paddock since last season.
"About the contract, Ducati and I both agree on most of the points," Marquez told MotoGP.com after returning to Europe from the Thai Grand Prix season-opener.
However, the 31-year-old acknowledged requesting a pause in negotiations due to his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery. The injury kept him sidelined from October through February, creating uncertainty about his physical condition.
"But just as I said in the [Thai GP] press conference, I asked Ducati to wait a bit, to have that moment," Marquez explained. "Because I was injured when we started talking about the future. And first of all, I would like to feel well on the bike, and then of course, sign the contract."
While other top riders including Pedro Acosta, Francesco Bagnaia, and Fabio Quartararo have dominated headlines with potential team changes for 2027, Marquez appears ready to establish stability for the first time since departing Repsol Honda.
At the Thai Grand Prix, Marquez demonstrated his continued competitiveness despite not matching his dominant performance from the previous year at Buriram. He emerged as the top Ducati rider, challenging for Sprint victory and positioning himself for a podium finish in the main race before suffering a wheel rim failure.
"I'm looking forward to the next races because in Thailand we suffered a bit, but we were there, fighting for the podium. So this is the good news," Marquez said.
The eight-time world champion remains optimistic about his physical recovery and competitive prospects as the season progresses. His focus now turns to continued improvement in his shoulder condition during the two-week break before the next round.
"Now I have two weeks in front where I would like to do another step in my physical condition [with the shoulder], let's see if I can. But yeah, I'm already starting to feel in a good way to fight [in the] races," Marquez added.
Marquez currently trails early championship leader Pedro Acosta by 23 points heading into the inaugural Brazilian Grand Prix at Goiania. The gap reflects the challenges he faced in Thailand, but his performance suggested he remains a serious title contender once his physical condition fully stabilizes.
With most contract terms apparently agreed upon, the final details appear to hinge on Marquez's confidence in his recovery and ability to perform at his peak level. The completion of this deal would provide crucial stability for both rider and team as MotoGP prepares for significant technical changes in the coming seasons.