Marc Márquez is approaching a championship that would reshape his place in MotoGP history, but Stefan Bradl sees another possible outcome: the Spaniard may decide to leave the series if he wins an eighth premier-class title.

The timing makes the scenario especially notable. Márquez enters the penultimate round at Portimao 60 points ahead of Jorge Martin and 74 ahead of Marco Bezzecchi. If he still leads both rivals by 38 points after the race, the championship will be settled before the final round. His advantage has been strengthened by a four-second victory over Pedro Acosta at Sepang, followed by a Qatar Sprint win and second place in the Grand Prix.

A potential career high point

The 2026 crown would be Márquez’s eighth in MotoGP and his 10th world title overall. It would put him level with Giacomo Agostini for premier-class championships and ahead of Valentino Rossi on the all-time world-title list. Bradl believes that reaching such a milestone could persuade Márquez to stop while his sporting standing is at its peak.

Bradl’s view is informed by a long history with Márquez. The pair fought for the 2011 Moto2 World Championship, which Bradl won after Márquez suffered an eye injury in a qualifying crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix. They later spent substantial time in the Honda organisation, and Bradl filled in for Márquez at several races during the Spaniard’s most serious injury periods in the early 2020s.

For now, retirement remains Bradl’s scenario rather than a decision announced by Márquez. Márquez’s two-year Ducati contract extension ties him to the manufacturer through the end of 2028. Davide Tardozzi has also said that the rider has an agreement with Ducati for 2027 and 2028 and that he is certain Márquez will remain with the team. A title could therefore intensify the discussion around Márquez’s future, but it is not a retirement announcement.