Marquez “will be professional” to the end of Honda MotoGP deal

The one-time Moto3 and Moto2 world champion announced ahead of the summer break in June that he would be joining the Gresini Ducati squad next season.

Speaking exclusively to Autosport at the British Grand Prix earlier in August, the younger Marquez brother said a loss of “motivation” to continue with Honda – coupled with HRC’s own desire to shake up its rider line-up – prompted his decision to look for a ride elsewhere in 2023.

Despite his impending exit, Marquez says he will continue to provide Honda will all of the data it needs this year to improve its bike for 2023.

“I mean, the good thing is that Honda said before that that the bike has a problem, that they need to go through, that they need to improve in a good way,” Marquez told Autosport.

“But then also they decided to change all the riders.

“I’m a person that when things don’t go in the right way, the best thing is to change everything – this is in my mindset.

“Maybe this is also Honda’s mindset, but they have a lot of work.

“I’m a professional rider and I have a contract until 31 December – or the last race, I don’t know exactly.

“And I will be professional to that point, helping Honda, because they gave me the opportunity to go to MotoGP.

“They know they have a lot of work and they have to change a lot of things to work and to be in the level of the European manufacturers, that made a really good step in the last four, five years.”

Alex Marquez, Team LCR Honda

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Marquez’s struggles on the Honda have come as a surprise given he scored two podiums at the factory squad in 2020 as a rookie.

He admits the step forward with the 2021 bike wasn’t the improvement that was hoped for, while also acknowledging his comments may