Marc Marquez, the current MotoGP world championship leader, has expressed that MotoGP does not require a contract arbitration authority similar to the one used in Formula 1. His comments come amid the ongoing dispute involving Jorge Martin’s attempt to exit his Aprilia contract early, which the Italian manufacturer insists remains valid until the end of 2026.
Comparison to Formula 1’s Contract Recognition Board
Formula 1 has operated a Contract Recognition Board (CRB) since a high-profile conflict in 1991 involving Michael Schumacher’s move from Jordan to Benetton. The CRB recently played a key role in Oscar Piastri’s debut with McLaren rather than Alpine in 2023. Despite this precedent, Marquez believes that the protections riders need can be achieved through proper management rather than formal arbitration structures.
Riders Support Traditional Contract Handling in MotoGP
Marquez emphasized the importance of having a competent support team, including managers and teams, to ensure contractual security.
“For me, if you have a professional team around you – meaning [your] manager and the team – you are protected enough,”
he said during a press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix.
French Grand Prix winner Johann Zarco also expressed satisfaction with MotoGP’s current, more informal contract approach compared to F1’s system. “Yeah, I agree,” Zarco stated.
“And I’m happy that at the moment in motorcycles, it’s not happening like in Formula 1. So I hope we can keep this kind of [approach] for as long as possible.”
—Johann Zarco, MotoGP Rider
Similarly, KTM’s Pedro Acosta nodded to Marquez’s viewpoint, acknowledging that knowing exactly what is signed and having solid professional backing often provides sufficient protection. Acosta himself has been linked with a possible move to Honda in 2026 amid contract speculation, sharing the same manager as Martin, Alberto Valera.
“Yeah, like Marc said, if you have a good team around you and… you know exactly what you signed then, more or less, you have [enough] protection.”
—Pedro Acosta, KTM Rider
Implications for MotoGP Contract Disputes Going Forward
The dispute involving Jorge Martin and Aprilia highlights tensions between riders and manufacturers over contract commitments, but Marquez’s stance suggests that MotoGP will continue relying on existing contract management rather than adopting a formal arbitration board like Formula 1’s CRB. This traditional approach maintains a more personalized and flexible resolution process as riders navigate their career decisions with team support. How these disputes evolve may influence future contract negotiations but, for now, Marquez and other top riders appear confident in their current system’s ability to safeguard their interests.
