While most of his compatriots have headed to close by Andorra, MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has opted to reside in Spain nearly solely all through his racing profession.
There are a number of reasons for a lot of Spanish MotoGP riders to go to Andorra. Firstly, its mountainous terrain makes for good excessive altitude coaching whereas additionally that means that it’s potential to reside a comparatively secluded lifestyle.
Additionally, there may be the truth of Andorra being a comparatively low-tax nation. It’s the identical justification that pulls many F1 drivers to Monaco, for instance.
Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 Germany MotoGP
© Gold and Goose
The tax cause is one which Marquez feels doesn’t influence him, as a result of he makes sufficient cash as it’s without having to search out methods to keep away from shedding a few of it to the state.
Perhaps extra importantly, although, Marquez has remained in Spain as a result of he feels he is ready to be extra aggressive on the race monitor by being across the medical services which are obtainable in Madrid.
“I understand the people that want to move, they are free to move,” Marc Marquez mentioned when requested about his determination to remain in Spain relatively than transfer to Andorra on Saturday on the German MotoGP.
“But just in my personal opinion, I feel free if I’m living where I want.
“So, of course, the fact that I gain a lot [of money], and if I pay the taxes, still I have a lot. So, it’s true, this helps, but, I feel well in Spain, and I want to live where I feel that can give me the maximum to perform well on the circuit.
“First I lived in Cervera because I was relaxed, I don’t need physios, I don’t need special machines.
“Now, since the injury, I need special machines, I need physios, I need different kind of training, and then I move to Madrid because I found there a good team and a good center.
Marc Marquez, 2026 Sachsenring MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose
“But always I live where I feel that is the best to perform better on the racetrack.”
The topic was additionally introduced as much as Marquez in an interview with La Sexta in January, during which he mentioned that he had tried to make the transfer to Andorra when he was 22, in 2015, however it didn’t final.
“I have paid them [taxes] all my sporting career in Spain and I have a house in Andorra,” he mentioned.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I tried [going to Andorra].”
“I tried it because since I was 15-years-old I have been going to Andorra. Cervera [Marquez’s home town] is an hour from the border and we went there to shop with my parents, to spend the weekend, we had races there.
“When I entered the world championship, when I had a car I got in, stayed overnight, trained on the tracks.”
Marquez continued: “When I was 22-years-old, I bought a house there as a second home to go to, have my skis and my things.
“I said from trying one winter to stay longer, because that’s when many (riders) started to go up and at the level of taxes you pay much less.
“I lasted two months in a row and I said ‘Me, Spain, and home’.
“I do not do it to convey any message. I do things on the bike to convey messages, this one I do as I feel. I also tell you, I am aware of where taxes go and where they don’t.”
