WHAT NEXT?

The cracks in Marquez and Honda's relationship are clearly visible after the last three rounds. Is it the beginning of the end?

- SHIVANK BHATT

MotoGP is currently on a summer break and while there are many things to talk and report about, we are going to concentrate on the biggest headline from last month. The curious case of Marc Marquez and his future with Repsol Honda. There are clear signs that the relationship between the two parties isn't as cheery as it used to be. Is it the end of the road for the six-time MotoGP champion at Honda then? Or, is there still some hope for a strong comeback? And, if Marquez does decide to part ways with Honda before 2024, what are his options? Let's speculate!

But, first up, what is it that's caused Honda and Marquez's relationship hit rock bottom?

Well, you have only got to look at Marquez's results from this year to understand that. In the eight races so far, Marquez hasn't finished a single race (main GP) this season! He managed to score pole position and a thirdplace Sprint finish in the opening round at Portimao (Portugal), but it has gone downhill since. In the main race at Portugal, Marquez was involved in a controversial crash where he took Jorge Martin and Miguel Oliveira out along with him. More than the controversy, though, Marquez ended up hurting himself - unsurprisingly - and missed the next three rounds of Argentina, America, and Jerez (Spain). He returned at Le Mans, albeit yet again failed to finish the race, let alone score points. Marquez crashed out in the closing stages of the French GP while contesting for a podium place with Martin. And that wasn't the end of his woes. Marquez crashed out of the race in the next round at Mugello (Italy) in more or less the same fashion again in a week's time. However, it was at Sachsenring (Germany) when the cracks in Marquez and Honda's partnership started surfacing, and how!