The announcement from Honda Racing Corporation marked the conclusion of Marc Márquez’s 11-year tenure with the team, putting an end to weeks of speculation surrounding his future. Both parties mutually agreed to terminate Márquez’s four-year contract prematurely, effective at the conclusion of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season. The decision was reached with the acknowledgment that pursuing separate paths would better align with their respective objectives. Despite a year remaining on his contract, the Spaniard’s departure from the Japanese team is imminent. While his next destination remains unconfirmed, there is widespread anticipation that the 30-year-old will join his brother, Álex, at the Grassini Ducati team, providing him with an opportunity to reclaim a competitive edge on the grid. Following Honda’s announcement, Márquez took to social media to express his emotions, reflecting on their achievements together and emphasizing the difficulty of his decision, driven by logic rather than sentiment. Reports indicate that Márquez will not be able to bring any of his team members, including his esteemed crew chief, Santi Hernández, with him upon departure. Despite the remarkable success of the Márquez-Honda partnership, both the manufacturer and the rider faced challenges during the 2023 season. Márquez’s struggle to recover his form following multiple surgeries on his arm, coupled with the complexities of mastering the Repsol Honda machine, resulted in a tumultuous season marred by numerous crashes. In contrast, Ducati’s advancements widened the competitive gap at the front, providing an environment where multiple riders achieved significant victories. Álex Márquez extended support to his brother, acknowledging the difficulties he has faced since 2020 and encouraging him to embrace what he loves most with full dedication moving forward.
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