Honda’s star rider is contracted until the end of 2024 on the most lucrative contract on the current MotoGP grid buꦡt 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 bike after crashin♔g again.

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

“Oꦿf course, Honda respects the opinion of its riders. 

“We do not f𝔉eel any fear, but we will respect his decision.”

Watanabe co𓂃nfirmed Honda’s hope to keep Marquez until he retires: “Yeꦜs, of course, yes.”

But an extended contract𒁃 is not yet oಞn the table: “There is no rush.”

Watanab﷽e confirmed that Marquez would not sign a new contract until 2024.

“Yes, but we are always talk🌃ing to each other𝐆,” he said.

“Good communication is important in the Honda famil🐬y.”

Watanabe play🌳ed a key role in the Honda engines used by Red Bull’s F1 team, whose driver Max ꦡVerstappen is set to win three championships in a row.

Marque🅠z told about Honda: “Look what they do in Formulaꦛ One where they [supply] the best engine for Red Bull. So I believe in them.”

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

His hopes of becoming a se🔴ven-time champion remain due to his brilliance but the toll♏ of injuries is also racking up.

KTM dropped a hint th𒀰at they would be open to discussing his post-2024 futဣure, while Ducati have repeatedly ruled themselves out.

Heading into the German MotoGP at Sachsenring, where Marquezꩲ 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 pre🦄tty hard to say, time-wise. 

“🅠But, now we have almost found what the problem is.

🔯“Yes, yes. The next step is how we can fix the problem, but we need some time to fix it properly. 

“Hopefully by the end of this season, we'll have a chance to catch them.&nbꦯsp;

“But, of course, it's not that easy.”

Honda riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins will both be absent in Germany after picking up injuries due t💧o crashes last weekend.

“We need to improv🃏e the bike itself, for everyone,” Watanabe said.