Marc Marquez commits to Honda factory MotoGP team until end of 2018

It had been considered a formality that Marquez would continue with Honda, despite being sounded out by Ducati before it decided to focus its efforts on Jorge Lorenzo, and the Japanese manufacturer confirmed the news on the eve of the Catalunya Grand Prix.

A 125cc and Moto2 champion, Marquez stepped up to MotoGP with Honda in 2013, winning that year's championship and doubling up in '14.

Currently second in the 2016 points, the 23-year-old has won 26 premier class grands prix with Honda.

"I'm very happy to announce this renewal with HRC, especially coinciding with my home GP, where I have some really good memories," Marquez said.

"HRC and I have a very strong relationship, and I've always wanted to continue being a part of the Repsol Honda Team.

"In three-and-a-half years together, we've enjoyed some unbelievable moments, with great victories and two world titles, as well as a few challenging moments that I believe are making us stronger.

"We're working very hard this year to regain the title."

Honda announced last month that Dani Pedrosa had also signed a two-year contract extension, meaning the Spanish riders will have been team-mates for six seasons by the end of 2018.

"There's no doubt that he is the present and future of MotoGP," HRC executive vice president Shuhei Nakamoto said of Marquez.

"We know him well and he knows us well, and we both wanted to continue together; for this reason, we felt no rush for this renewal.

"Marc has grown a lot during almost four years with HRC, and now he's an even more complete rider than in 2014, when he won 10 races in a row.

"Although he's still very young, we already have a long relationship together, and we know that Marc's experience is very important for helping our engineers to develop our bike."