Carlo Pernat says Marc Marquez could leave MotoGP a year early due to rider demands

MotoGP veteran Carlo Pernat has warned that Marc Marquez could leave the series a year early, citing increasing pressure on riders. Pernat said Marquez's Malaysian Grand Prix victory had given him a near-decisive blow in the world championship, even though the mathematics are not yet absolute.

Pernat believes Marquez, whose Ducati contract runs until the end of 2028, will leave at the end of next season. He linked this to demands placed on riders under the series' new Liberty Media ownership, which he said are affecting their quality of life. Pernat suggested Marquez, now a factory rider for his entire 14-year MotoGP career, wants to reach retirement age healthy, and pointed to new rules such as Friday and Saturday practice and the 44 starts as contributing factors.