The 30-year-old has been with Honda teams since 2013 but last week it was announced that the Spaniard and his team had decided to bring his four-year contract to a close 12 months ahead of schedule.
That freed him up to join Gresini, a Ducati satellite team, where he will join his younger brother, Alex.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Marc Marquez revealed how he had made the decision, and informed his current team.
He said: “I want to say that I want to be the best again in the world, but for that I need to enjoy it again on the track, and on the bike. It was a very tough decision, and was made last Tuesday after Japan. On Wednesday we had the phone call with Japanese staff and we decided by mutual agreement to separate our contracts, not for life, because I hope and I wish to meet again in the future.
“It was a very hard, emotional week, but right now we already announced it with Gresini. We signed the MOU [memorandum of understanding] this morning because we never go forward with another contract before speaking with Honda, but it was super hard for me.”
Marquez explained that he had not come to the decision lightly, adding: “The last two months were one day thinking one way, the other thinking another way. In the end the main priority was myself and my career, and to continue with my career I need to enjoy it again, to have the motivation again for the race track, and for that I chose Gresini.
“Maybe it’s not a factory team, maybe it’s not a big, big team, but it’s a familiar team. Right now I feel I need that. Then we will see what I can do.”
Younger brother Alex Marquez, 27, said he had not tried to tempt his sibling to make the switch, but had given him advice as a brother.
He said: ”No, not about that because every rider is different, every rider is special. He asked for my opinion, I gave him my opinion. Not as a rider, a Gresini rider, more as a brother who is racing already. What he needs is to enjoy it, and I think he can at the Gresini family, he has it all to enjoy, and especially the bike.”
The pair were both at Repsol Honda in 2020, but injuries for the older brother had curtailed their ability to ride at the same time, and he was happy to have another chance.
The Gresini rider continued: “Life sometimes gives you a second opportunity, and sometimes the quality from me and the team will grow a lot when a rider like Marc arrives.”
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