MotoGP: 'No meaning' to continue for years without competing at front says Marc Marquez ahead of San Marino GP

Six-time world champion Marc Marquez has suggested there will be “no meaning” for him to continue in MotoGP if he can’t challenge for race wins.

Once the dominant figure in the sport, it’s been two years since Marquez last won a race.

Since the start of 2022 he has managed just one podium and it has been reported that he is set to leave long-time team Honda to join Gresini Ducati.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s San Marino GP, which is live on TNT Sports, Marquez is quoted by crash.net saying: “I always say, for me, it's no meaning to ride a bike or to be here a lot of years without fighting at least for the top five, top seven positions. Because then as a rider, I don't have fun.

“Some riders have fun fighting for the back positions... maybe. But all athletes, all riders, have fun if they are in the front.”

Marquez has refused to confirm where he will be riding next season, saying “I have a contract for next year with Honda” in response to questions about his future.

But he added: “I keep saying that for me it's so difficult to keep now the motivation.

“But when you are in those [difficult] moments, you need to keep your routine. You need to keep your way of working. At the moment, nobody with the Honda is much faster than me so I feel competitive and I try to keep the motivation in that way.

“But it's true that for the future, I hope sooner than later, to be fighting again for that minimum top five positions. That means that you are there on the top. Maybe not every race, but at least you are there [fighting].”

Marquez has had several injury issues this year and said early in the season it has been one of the “worst moments” of his career.

He has shown flashes of his pace, though, and says he is trying to “find the best” from his bike.

“Just as when I was winning in ‘18 or ‘19 and the other Honda was in seventh, eighth, 10th place, I never say [I’m making the difference]. I just try to work in my garage to find the best,” he said.

“It's true that, for example in Portimao, I was much faster than the other Hondas. In Le Mans same, in Mugello same. But then it’s true that now I do one step [back] and I'm just taking the risk - as I did in the first part of the season - when I feel I can.

“But in Montmelo I did a few moments during the race weekend in a very good shape. I was feeling good. In Austria, for example, I didn’t feel well in the qualifying but in the race distance, I was fast and consistent. So let's see here.

“I just try to work on my performance. The mentality is changing but I'm not losing the mentality I have, because I'm fighting against my mentality. But my work is trying to keep the same routine as I did in ‘18 or ‘19 or last year.

“Just try to be ready to fight for the best.”

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