Giacomo Agostini says Marc Marquez has no intention of sticking around in MotoGP if he can’t compete for wins.
He’s now the strong favourite heading into the 2026 season. A title win would draw him level with Agostini atop the premier-class leaderboard, each with eight championships. However, Agostini’s overall record of 15 Grand Prix titles still seems out of reach.
Even though Marquez is now 33 and one of the older riders on the grid, there’s little talk about retirement any time soon.
The path forward seems clear enough. A new deal with Ducati is expected soon, and it likely won’t be his last contract. There’s also growing belief that he may want to finish his career back where it began, at Honda.
Giacomo Agostini says Marc Marquez’s ‘mentality’ sets him apart
Agostini shared a conversation with Marquez that had stayed with him during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
While many riders on the grid would love to be fighting for top-five finishes right now, Marquez said he would ‘retire’ if that’s all he could achieve, rather than podiums, wins or titles.
Asked how Marquez ‘makes the difference’, Agostini replied: “With his mentality. He’s a rider who wants to win at all costs.
“One day, talking to him, he told me that if he had to fight for 5th or 6th place, he’d retire. For Marquez, the minimum goal is the podium.”
The Spaniard is targeting his 100th Grand Prix win in Thailand this weekend and could also surpass Valentino Rossi’s premier-class benchmark of 89 this year (he currently has 73).
Marquez spoke recently about his plans for the future and made it clear that whenever he loses pace with the front of the pack, that’s when he’ll step away from racing.
Marc Marquez told why he is different from any other MotoGP rider
Agostini, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, recalled a conversation with Marquez that stuck with him. Many riders would be content fighting for top-five finishes, but Marquez said he would retire if that was all he could achieve, rather than aiming for podiums, wins or titles.
When asked what sets Marquez apart, Agostini pointed to his mentality. “He’s a rider who wants to win at all costs,” the Italian said. “One day, talking to him, he told me that if he had to fight for fifth or sixth place, he’d retire. For Marc Marquez, the minimum goal is the podium.”
Marquez is currently chasing his 100th Grand Prix win and could also break Rossi’s record of 89 premier-class victories this season; he sits on 73 at the moment.
Speaking about his future recently, Marquez said he’ll step away when someone else can consistently beat him on track.
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