Honda’s star rider is contracted until the end of 2024 on the most lucrative contract on the current MotoGP grid but speculation about his future continues, particularly while he is stuck🦩 on a non-competitive bike.

Last week at Mugello he threw up his hands in anger at his bi⭕ke after crashing again.

“We still feel that Marc is part of the Honda f൩amily,” Koji Watanabe told . 

“Of course, Honda respect🎶s the opini⛦on of its riders. 

“We do not feel any fear, but we🗹 will respect his 🐠decision.”

💟Watanabe confirmed Honda’s hope to kee♏p Marquez until he retires: “Yes, of course, yes.”

But an extended contract 🧸is not yet on the table: “There is no rush.”

Watanabe confirmeꦉd that Marquez would not s🌊ign a new contract until 2024.

“Yes, bu🧔t we are always talking to each other,” 🍒he said.

“Good communication is important in the Honda family.🌃”

Watanabe played a k👍ey role in the Honda engines used by Red Bull’s F1 team, whose driver Max Verstappen is set to win three championships in a row.

Marqu♚ez told about Honda: “Look what they do in Formula One where they [supply] the best engine for 🍷Red Bull. So I believe in them.”

Tꩵhe difficulty with Marquez’s future is that he will be 32 by the time he could join a new team, and would demand hefty compensation.

His hopes of 🌸becoming a seven-time champion remain due to his brilliance but the toll of injuries is also racking up.

KTM dropped a hint 🐎that they would be opeღn to discussing his post-2024 future, while Ducati have repeatedly ruled themselves out.

Heading into the German MotoGP at Sa🦩chsenring, where Marquez has won eight times, Honda know their priority is to improve their current machine.

Watanabe was asked when they can catch Ducati, and replied: “It's pretty🐠 hard to say, time-wise. 

“But, now we have almost f🌳ound what the problem is𓄧.

“Yes, yes. The nex🌜t step is how we can fix the problem, buꦜt we need some time to fix it properly. 

“Hopefully by the end of 🔜this season, we'll have a chan▨ce to catch them. 

“But, of course, it's not that easy.”

Honda riders Joa💞n Mir and Alex Rins will both bꦇe absent in Germany after picking up injuries due to crashes last weekend.

“We need to iꦍmprove the bike itself, fo💟r everyone,” Watanabe said.