Marc Marquez has revealed that he seriously considered stepping away from MotoGP during the darkest period of his injury battle, admitting there were times when even entering the paddock became emotionally difficult.
The Ducati rider, who has undergone seven operations on his right arm since his career-changing crash at Jerez in 2020, said the repeated surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation took a significant psychological toll. His most recent procedure, carried out earlier this year, addressed radial nerve damage caused by a screw from a previous operation, finally allowing him to ride without the uncertainty that had affected him in recent seasons.
Speaking in an interview with DAZN, Marquez admitted there were moments when he no longer wanted to be at a race weekend.
"There were times when I didn't want to walk into the paddock because I associated it with pain," Marquez said, reflecting on the difficult years that followed his injuries.
Source: Racetrackmasters
The nine-time world champion said those experiences have also changed how he views success. Although winning a 10th world title would be a major achievement, he insisted it is no longer the defining goal of his career.
Marquez explained that whether he retires with nine or 10 championships will not change what he has already accomplished. Instead, his priority is to enjoy racing again and avoid ending his career mentally exhausted by the sport.
The Spaniard also revealed he is not yet ready to watch the recently released documentary on fellow Spanish sporting icon Rafael Nadal. Having followed Nadal's career closely, Marquez said the documentary's focus on injury, suffering and retirement hits too close to home given his own experiences.
"I really want to watch it, but I'm not mentally ready," he admitted.
Marquez's remarks offer a rare insight into the emotional struggles behind one of MotoGP's most remarkable comebacks. After years of battling injuries and uncertainty, he has rediscovered both his competitiveness and his enjoyment of racing, with his focus now firmly on making the most of the remainder of his career rather than chasing records alone.
