Repsol Team Honda boss Alberto Puig has brushed off suggestions that it will attempt to lure Marc Marquez back to HRC once it has developed the latest evolution of the Honda RC213V into a competitive package.

Marquez defects from Honda to Ducati for the 2024 and 2025 MotoGP seasons after accepting a deal to join his brother Alex Marquez at the satellite Gresini Racing team.

His departure comes after spending 11 seasons with Honda, during which he achieved 59 race wins and six MotoGP World Championship titles, though his rate of success had stalled in recent seasons on the back of a decline in competitiveness from the RC213V package and Marquez’s litany of injury woes.

For now, there are no firm plans for Marquez beyond his two contracted seasons, but there are suggestions Honda - which has signed Luca Marini to take over the seat alongside Joan Mir - is optimistic it can lure its talisman back to the HRC fold in future if it improves the bike.

“Honda's intention, today, is to improve the motorcycle,” Puig told Marca. “We have to have a competitive motorcycle again, like we had years ago. 

“That is point number one, the most important thing. Then, logically, develop the bike during the winter and race in 2024 and see what bike we have and what our riders can do with that bike.

“And, from midseason onwards, really see where we are. That's the only thing I can say now. 

“To think beyond that would be crazy. Priority number one: develop and improve the bike.”