Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Marc Marquez have mutually agreed to terminate their four-year contract prematurely at the end of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season. The announcement puts to rest all speculations about the Spanish rider planning to leave the Japanese outfit. Despite a year remaining in the original contract, both parties have concluded that ‘they wish to explore other avenues to best achieve their respective goals and targets.’
This is certainly big news from the premier class of motorcycle racing, especially given the record-breaking run both HRC and Marc have had during their 11-year stint together. During this time, the #93 rider accumulated six premier – class World Championships, five Triple Crowns, 59 wins, 101 podiums, and 64 pole positions.
Marc took his debut victory in the premier class aboard the Honda RC213V at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in 2013 to become the youngest premier class winner and would become the youngest premier class World Champion later that year. In 2014, he defended his title by winning the opening ten races of the year and went on to claim titles in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 as an HRC rider with the Repsol Honda Team.
From here, if rumours are to be believed, Marc is likely to join his brother Alex at Ducati-backed Gresini Racing. However, an official statement regarding this move is yet to be released. With no race victories since October 2021, a string of surgeries for his injured arm, and Honda’s lackluster performance, Marc’s current form had even triggered him to say that there would be ‘no meaning’ for him to continue in MotoGP if he can’t challenge for race wins. It was clear that, sooner or later, he would start looking for greener pastures.