Alex Marquez has warned that MotoGP risks compromising the future of its younger riders by placing too much pressure on them through an increasingly demanding race calendar and the introduction of sprint races.
The Gresini Racing rider believes the championship’s efforts to deliver more excitement for fans have come at a cost, with riders spending more time pushing their machines to the limit and exposing themselves to greater injury risks.
His concerns come after a difficult Australian Grand Prix weekend, during which six of the 22 full-time riders were declared unfit to compete, including four who were sidelined by injuries. The race was ultimately cancelled, while the season has also been marked by a series of rider absences due to crashes and physical setbacks.
Marquez, who has himself missed races following fractures to his collarbone and vertebrae sustained in Barcelona, said the current demands could have serious consequences for the next generation of MotoGP talent.
“The more we ride at the limit, the more risks we take,” the Spaniard explained, pointing out that the championship’s push for greater entertainment has increased the amount of high-intensity track action.
MotoGP introduced sprint races at every round in 2023, adding a half-distance race to the traditional Sunday Grand Prix. While the format has created more competitive action for fans, Marquez believes it has also contributed to the growing injury concerns across the grid.
At 30, the Gresini rider said he was more concerned about the long-term prospects of younger competitors, including Pedro Acosta and Fermin Aldeguer, who are still in the early stages of their MotoGP careers.
He argued that the championship should prioritise the long-term development of its stars rather than risk exhausting them through an increasingly punishing schedule.
“I'm 30. I will not be affected. I will retire one year later or earlier. But the young people like Fermin Aldeguer and Pedro Acosta are who the championship really needs to take care of because they are 20 and, with this quantity of races and sprints, it will be complicated for them,” Marquez said.
“They need to think about creating heroes, but heroes in the long term, not just in a short time.”
The Spaniard also called for a significant reduction in the number of sprint races, suggesting that MotoGP should hold them at only around half of its current number of rounds. He believes six or seven sprint races per season would strike a better balance between entertainment and rider welfare, similar to Formula 1's approach of staging sprints at selected events.
His comments come as MotoGP prepares to introduce further changes to its race weekend format in 2027, including a separate qualifying session for sprint races. The proposal has divided the grid, with some riders welcoming the potential benefits while others fear it will add more pressure to an already demanding schedule.
The debate has also raised questions about how much influence riders have over decisions affecting their workload and safety. Marquez has previously expressed frustration that the new format was agreed upon by the championship and teams without sufficient input from the riders themselves.
With injuries continuing to disrupt the 2026 season, Marquez's warning highlights the challenge facing MotoGP as it seeks to grow its global audience while protecting the people at the heart of the sport. For the Gresini rider, delivering an exciting championship should not come at the expense of the long-term careers of its future stars.
