Marc Marquez Faces Sponsorship Dilemma for Potential Ducati Move
To make the move in 2025, Marquez would need to part ways with his long-time sponsor, Red Bull, according to a report by Motorsport. The core of the issue lies in Ducati’s sponsorship by Monster Energy, a direct competitor of Red Bull.
The partnership between Ducati and Monster Energy is locked in until the end of 2025, posing a significant hurdle for Marquez. This sponsorship conflict is the most prominent, but other sponsorship entanglements further complicate the potential move.
Marquez’s association with Samsung conflicts with Ducati’s main sponsor, Lenovo. Similarly, Marquez’s partnership with Allianz clashes with Ducati’s sponsor, Unipol. Moreover, Marquez is backed by Oakley sunglasses, while Ducati is aligned with Carrera Sunglasses. Additionally, Marquez’s sponsorship from beer company Estrella Galicia contrasts with Ducati’s partnership with wine and spirit company Contadi Castaldi.
Will Marquez End His Red Bull Partnership?
Having recently left Honda, where he held the highest rider contract in MotoGP, to join Gresini Ducati, Marquez now faces another tough financial decision if he wants to ride for Ducati’s factory team in 2025.
Discussing the potential break from Red Bull to join Ducati’s official team, Marquez shared his thoughts during the Le Mans round: “In life, sometimes, you have to make decisions that you don’t like or don’t want to have to make. We are all here to win, and to do so we must seek the best conditions at all times. We have to put everything into consideration. If a rider ends his contract, and a factory, whatever it may be, has free bikes, it would be stupid not to have at least a conversation with them. You have to talk to everyone, and logically there are conversations.”
Ducati must decide between Marquez, Jorge Martin, and Enea Bastianini for the 2025 seat alongside Pecco Bagnaia. Marquez has expressed his desire for a factory-spec machine next season, having adjusted to his GP23 this year. The final decision is anticipated around the Mugello round at the end of May.
