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Honda has announced the early termination of its contract with six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez.
The development paves the way for the Spaniard to move to satellite Ducati team Gresini Racing in 2024, although that much is yet to be confirmed.
Marquez has been a Honda rider since he debuted in the premier class in 2013, winning the title as a rookie.
However, the two parties have “mutually elected” to part ways at the end of the 2023 season, one year before Marquez’s contract was due to end.
Speculation over his future had reached fever pitch in recent months, and it seems that Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna let the cat out of the bag on Italian television during last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix when he said Marquez had “decided” to leave Honda.
Nevertheless, the Gresini move had long been considered possible, if not likely, and it would appear that Marc will again share a garage with brother Alex after they were Repsol Honda team-mates during the latter’s rookie season of 2020.
The elder of the Marquez brothers did, though, miss that campaign almost in its entirety after a massive crash in the first race of the season, premature comeback, and bungled recovery.
His long injury lay-off coincided with a slump for the once all-conquering Honda marque, from which it is yet to recover, with the European manufacturers – particularly Ducati but also KTM and event Aprilia – raising the bar in MotoGP.
Marc Marquez, assuming the inevitable regarding his future destination, is now set to ride a year-old Ducati out of the Gresini squad next year, reflecting just how far Honda has fallen.
A replacement for #93 at Repsol Honda is yet to be named.
See below for full statement from Honda Racing Corporation
Honda Racing Corporation and Marc Marquez to end collaboration early by mutual agreement
Honda Racing Corporation and Marc Marquez have mutually elected to terminate their four-year contract prematurely at the end of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season.
With a year still remaining on the four-year contract between HRC and Marc Marquez, both parties have mutually agreed to end their collaboration upon completion of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season. Both parties agreed it was in their best interests to each pursue other avenues in the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets.
This brings an end to 11 years of collaboration between the #93 and HRC in which they achieved six premier class World Championships, five Triple Crowns, 59 wins, 101 podiums and 64 pole positions together.
Marquez 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 and won the opening 10 consecutive races of year, going on to also claim titles in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as an HRC rider with the Repsol Honda Team.
Both parties will continue to give their full support for the remaining rounds of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season.
HRC wish Marc Marquez the best in his future endeavors.
