Road Racing News: Marquez’s Potential Ducati Move Faces Complex Sponsorship Hurdles
When the first rumors surfaced about Marc Marquez potentially joining the factory Ducati team next season, the key obstacle quickly emerged as his existing sponsorship deal with Red Bull. Marquez had foregone the final year of his Honda contract to join the satellite Gresini team in 2024, where he would compete on a year-old Ducati prototype.
This bold move, seen by some as risky, meant leaving the factory structure to join a satellite outfit, but provided Marquez the opportunity to battle for the title alongside Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin. The financial sacrifice was substantial, but the rewards are starting to materialize, with the Spaniard finishing second in both races at the recent French Grand Prix after starting 13th on the grid.
Now 31 years old, Marquez sees a real chance of becoming an official Ducati rider, providing him the most competitive bike and, in his opinion, the best shot at a seventh premier class championship. However, this next step in his career plan puts him at a crossroads, with the economic aspect once again playing a crucial role.
“Hopefully we’ll get to that point. At that point, everything can be talked about,” Marquez acknowledged, aware of the obvious incompatibility between the two rival brands.
The conflict extends beyond just Red Bull, as Marquez’s current personal sponsors, including Samsung, Allianz, Oakley, and Estrella Galicia, would also clash with Ducati’s own partners. This would require the former champion to effectively leave all his existing sponsors or at least temporarily suspend those relationships to race with the factory Ducati team.
Recognizing these complexities, Marquez’s tone shifted at the recent Spanish Grand Prix, where he suggested his priority for 2025 may be to secure the latest Ducati specification, regardless of the team. “Next year I want to try to have the latest evolution, any bike, any colour, any brand,” he said, emphasizing his focus on having the technical guarantees of a factory-supported ride to challenge for the world championship.
This outcome would allow Marquez to retain his existing sponsors while still making a significant leap forward in competitiveness. It would also be an ideal scenario for Ducati, as they could promote Jorge Martin to their factory squad while having the services of one of the greatest riders of the last decade as part of their expanded works effort in 2025.
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