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After weeks of speculation, it has been confirmed that six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez will be leaving Honda at the end of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Márquez have mutually agreed to terminate their four-year contract prematurely, with one year left on the contract. In a statement, HRC said that both parties agreed it was in their best interests to pursue other avenues in the future to achieve their respective goals and targets.

Márquez, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful riders in the history of the sport, has not yet confirmed his destination. However, it is widely expected that he will join his brother Álex at the Gresini Ducati team, a satellite outfit that offers him a chance to compete once more at the front of the grid.

In an emotional social media post following Honda's announcement, Márquez shared a message to one of his team, expressing his gratitude for their support and acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. He said that he wants to try to be the best rider in the world again and for that, he needs to enjoy it.

Reports suggest that Márquez will not be able to take any of his team, including his highly respected crew chief, Santi Hernández, with him when he leaves.

The Márquez-Honda relationship has been one of the most successful in motorcycle racing history, with six premier class World Championships, five Triple Crowns, 59 wins, 101 podiums, and 64 pole positions. However, both manufacturer and rider have endured a difficult 2023 season, with Márquez struggling to regain his form following four surgeries on his arm after a horror crash at the beginning of the 2020 campaign.

This year's Repsol Honda machine has also proven difficult to master, with Márquez enduring 14 crashes before the MotoGP summer break alone. Meanwhile, Ducati has widened the gap at the front by delivering a bike on which multiple riders have been able to achieve convincing wins.

Álex Márquez, Marc's brother, posted a consoling message to him on Instagram, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision and expressing his support. He said that few people know what Marc has been through since 2020 and that it's time for him to enjoy what he loves most again.

As Márquez prepares to leave Honda, fans and experts alike will be watching closely to see where he goes next and how he performs in the future.