Marc Marquez says “Everything’s fine” — Dani Pedrosa isn’t buying it
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images Dani Pedrosa has advised Marc Marquez that he can’t simply forget about his past injuries as he tries to hold on to the MotoGP world championship. Both Marquez and Ducati have admitted that he hasn’t been fully fit at the start of the 2026 season, still dealing with the effects of the shoulder injury that cut his 2025 campaign short by four rounds. Pedrosa, who retired from racing in 2018, is familiar with what it’s like for a rider to struggle with physical issues.
He had numerous injuries over his career and never managed to win a premier class title despite being one of the most naturally talented riders around. Ducati are standing behind their rider despite his slow start and ongoing fitness concerns. Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Dani Pedrosa: Marc Marquez’s injuries have ‘settled in his subconscious’ Speaking to AS, Pedrosa discussed how every rider eventually reaches a stage where they stop taking the same risks as before.
Marquez’s emphatic championship triumph last year completed one of the sport’s great comebacks after his 2020 arm injury, which ultimately required four surgeries. But Pedrosa believes that the mental effects of that injury are still present and now worsened by ongoing shoulder issues. At 33, riding without caution becomes much more difficult, and Marquez is showing signs of wear and tear from his career.
“Rossi did it back in the day too, but eventually, when you reach a certain age, your efficiency on the track starts to decline, and the risks the younger riders take are much higher than yours. Then, everything reaches a point where it’s no longer possible. “I don’t know if that’s now or if it will be some time from now, but I think the most decisive factor for Marc in this regard will be his physical condition.
“There are things that, even if you try not to see them or think about them, get ingrained in your subconscious. And there’s something you can’t completely erase or get rid of. “Then you get back on the bike and little by little you increase your speed, you try more, you regain your confidence, and you convince yourself again that everything is fine.