Marc Marquez to stay in Moto2 in 2012

Marc Marquez has ended intense speculation about his future in Malaysia today by confirming he will remain in the Moto2 world championship in 2012.

The Spaniard has been constantly linked with a switch to MotoGP in recent weeks, but the 18-year-old confirmed in Sepang this afternoon that he won’t move until 2013.

Marquez admitted he was seriously tempted to switch to MotoGP next season, less than a year after he clinched the 125GP world championship in a dramatic final round in Valencia.

But he said gaining more experience with another year in Moto2 was his preferred decision.

Marquez, who goes into this weekend’s penultimate Moto2 round trailing German rival Stefan Bradl by three points, told MCN: “I am only 18 and I have a lot of time to go MotoGP. I thought about moving next year but in the end I think it better to gain more experience with one more year in Moto2. Dani Pedrosa has two years in 250s and Jorge Lorenzo three, so there is no need for me to rush.”

Marquez’s team boss Emilio Alzamora confirmed they had looked at the prospect of switching to MotoGP next year but the decision to remain in Moto2 had been taken prior to last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island.

He told MCN: “We laid all the facts in front of Marc and advised him but the final decision was his.”