Before the MotoGP San Marino GP, rumors in the paddock suggested a surprising move of Marc Márquez to Gresini, along with sponsors Red Bull and Repsol. But is there a possibility that this speculation could turn into a confirmed reality? Here, we analyze some points regarding this potential rider market «bomb».
- Marc Márquez’s contract
Márquez is under contract with Honda until the end of 2024. Therefore, his departure from the current team would require a contract termination, whether mutual or not. The rider denies the speculation, but the current contract would not be the biggest obstacle to a change. Contractual breaks, whether amicable or not, have occurred multiple times in the past, so this is not an insurmountable barrier. And Honda has already left the door open for Márquez to leave. - Repsol
One of the biggest hurdles to realizing yesterday’s rumors may lie with Repsol. The petrochemical company has been associated with Honda for decades, and the contract extends until the end of next year. Terminating agreements with sponsors can be more complicated than with riders. However, we cannot know if the contract between Repsol and Honda is exclusive: other companies sponsor more than one team, even if they are not the main sponsors of all of them. On the other hand, Ducati supplies Gresini with bikes and works with Repsol’s competitor, Shell. Could this partnership hinder Repsol from collaborating with Gresini or one of its riders? This is a question without a current answer. Gresini has the petrochemical company Federal Oil as one of its sponsors, but it is nowhere near the size of Repsol or Shell. - Red Bull
Red Bull is also linked to Honda, but it is not the main sponsor and it’s linked with other riders and teams as well. Red Bull is even the principal sponsor of KTM. Therefore, there should not be any major obstacles to this brand moving with Márquez to Gresini, as he is one of the riders they sponsor directly. - From a factory team to a satellite team
Since he was promoted to MotoGP in 2013, Márquez has always been part of Honda’s factory team with the latest machinery. In Gresini, he would have to settle for a satellite team and a less updated bike – Ducati can only provide factory bikes to a satellite team, which is Pramac. This may not be the most appealing scenario for a rider eager to fight for the championship again as soon as possible. Officialy, Pramac still has an open seat, which might be a more logical choice for Márquez. However, Franco Morbidelli is rumored to be the favorite for that bike. - Ducati’s interest
Although Ducati cannot entirely influence its satellite teams’ decisions on the riders, their directors has stated multiple times that a rider like Márquez does not fit its project and philosophy. The idea is to give opportunities to young talents and develop them, a strategy that has paid off with riders like Enea Bastianini, Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martín, or Marco Bezzecchi. - Gresini
If Márquez were to bring Red Bull and Repsol with him, paying a high salary might not be a major obstacle for Gresini. In fact, the arrival of #93 and sponsors of that caliber would be a significant asset for the team founded by Fausto Gresini—in terms of media exposure and financial gains. - Other contenders
If there is a willingness and availability on Gresini’s part to hire Márquez, the issue of other potential candidates for the seat would be secondary. Even with Franco Morbidelli available, currently there are few riders (if any) who are free in the market and more appealing than Márquez. One such rider could be Jack Miller, whose future at KTM might be in doubt due to the need to make room for Pedro Acosta. The Australian has a contract, but that doesn’t mean a termination couldn’t happen—especially with the results falling short of expectations so far.