Marc Marquez, the reigning MotoGP world champion, revealed that preparing for each new season becomes increasingly difficult due to the accumulation of injuries sustained over his career. The 33-year-old rider highlighted that it is not his age affecting his readiness, but the toll his body has taken from repeated physical setbacks.
Marquez’s notable 2025 season saw him secure 11 Grand Prix wins, culminating in his seventh premier class championship—his first title in six years. This success came five years after a serious arm injury threatened to end his career at the start of the 2020 season.
Injuries Impacting Physical Readiness More Than Age
Despite his growing age, Marquez stressed during the Buriram test that his mental sharpness remains intact. However, he confessed that his body has become “lazier and lazier” as a result of ongoing injuries, making recovery periods longer and more difficult.
“For me, it’s not getting harder with age; it’s getting harder with the injuries. Not with age,”
Marquez said.
“In the end, I feel still young on the mental side.”
He added,
“But it’s true with the injuries, one and then another one and then another one, that makes my body lazier and lazier, and it takes more time [to recover]. That’s the reason this winter it was super long, and still we are working on it. It’s true that after Thailand race we have two weeks more [to recover].”
“So, let’s see if we can continue on that evolution.”
Details on Recent Shoulder Injury and Recovery
Marquez sustained a shoulder injury during a collision with Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi at the start of the Indonesian Grand Prix last October. Initially, the injury did not seem to require surgery, but lack of healing within the first week led to an operation that sidelined Marquez for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Despite the lengthy recovery, he returned to track riding in January and completed pre-season testing without significant problems. However, the injury recovery remains a factor in contract negotiations with Ducati.
Contract Talks and Upcoming Season Outlook
While Marquez has not yet finalized a new deal with Ducati, discussions for a two-year contract extension are reportedly close to completion and expected to be confirmed soon. The upcoming season kicks off in Thailand, where Marquez will be competing alongside teammate Pedro Acosta, as Pecco Bagnaia prepares to transfer to Aprilia.
The continued evolution of Marquez’s physical condition will remain crucial for his performance as he faces the increasing demands of top-level MotoGP racing amidst his history of injuries.
