Marc Marquez could bring his MotoGP career to an early end at the close of the 2027 season, despite having a contract with Ducati until the end of 2028, according to veteran paddock figure Carlo Pernat.
Pernat believes the increasing demands placed on riders under MotoGP's new ownership by Liberty Media could influence Marquez's decision to step away from the sport sooner than expected.
Speaking on GPOne's Fast show following the Malaysian Grand Prix, Pernat praised Marquez's dominance and suggested the Spaniard had all but secured his 10th world championship with his victory at Sepang. Although the title is not yet mathematically confirmed, Pernat has little doubt about Marquez's ability to continue winning at the highest level.
However, he believes the demands of modern MotoGP could eventually outweigh the benefits of continuing to race.
"I think he will do another year, next year, because clearly he has a contract," Pernat said, suggesting that Marquez could leave at the end of 2027.
Source: Auto Hebdo
He also pointed to the growing workload surrounding race weekends, including Friday and Saturday practice sessions and the increasing number of race starts. Pernat believes these demands are affecting riders' quality of life and creating additional physical and mental pressure.
Marquez has already endured a difficult physical journey throughout his career, particularly since his serious arm injury in 2020. After years of surgeries and recovery, Pernat believes the six-time MotoGP champion will want to leave the sport while he is still healthy.
"He wants to reach motorcycle retirement age, in a year or two, healthy," Pernat added.
Pernat also suggested that Marquez is becoming an increasingly influential voice among riders as concerns over the championship's direction grow.
While there has been no indication from Marquez that he intends to retire early, Pernat's comments raise questions about how long the Spaniard will remain in MotoGP. For now, Marquez's Ducati contract runs through 2028, but the growing demands of the sport could make his future plans less certain.
