Marc Márquez has already been presented to the public as the new Gresini rider for MotoGP 2024. A nightclub in Riccione – a small town on the Adriatic coast – was chosen as the backdrop for the official launch of Márquez's new sporting stage. “I am very happy, even if I feel strange after so many years in the same team. “I'm excited, like a child with new shoes,” Márquez admitted in his first words as a Ducati rider. It is the first time in eleven seasons at Honda that the man from Cervera has worn colors other than those of Repsol. Now he is part of the team of Nadia Padovani, Fausto Gresini's widow, and rides a Ducati, the most regular motorcycle on the grid. “The Gresini team was the only one who waited for me, they gave me my time,” he explained. “We couldn't assume that he could come, but we decided to take the risk and we succeeded,” said Padovani.
Márquez's departure from the Japanese brand with one year left on his contract was the big news of the 2023 season, after months of uncertainty over his future. “It was the right decision, although very difficult.” That's how Márquez defined it. The Japanese motorcycle is not for parties, Honda is lost and the current situation did not allow the rider – he turns 31 on February 17th – to fight for the title with this bike. On the other hand, the Ducati is currently the best motorcycle in the category and the current champion.
The eight-time champion's debut with his new bike in Valencia left very good feelings, Gigi Dall'Igna's masterpiece brought back Márquez's smile on his first day. “I am very excited to arrive in Malaysia and get to know the bike and the team further and find my riding style with the Ducati. “I want to keep learning because my biggest rival is myself,” he admitted. The man from Cervera seems to be adapting well to his new team, which he was unable to take with him with his trusted mechanics and engineers. The Padovani-led structure has the 2023 version of the Ducati as it is an independent team. And with her, the eldest Márquez tries to enjoy and rediscover his victories again.
More information
Márquez jumps on the champion bike without winning in more than two years. Knowing that “expectations are high”, the Catalan assures that he wants to “be quick” but must remain “calm”. “I can’t expect to win races from the start. The last few years have been a nightmare for me and on this bike there are already two riders – Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín – who go very fast. It wouldn’t be normal to be on the same level as them,” he commented.
At his side he will have his brother, who is about to enter his second year with the Italian team. “I have arrived at a very difficult time after two years of not achieving good results at Honda. “Last year was very good and now we have to keep improving,” explained Álex Márquez. “I want to go race by race and I am sure we will achieve good results. Winning a long race is a goal, we have to take a step forward,” he added. “I am very happy to have the opportunity to share a team with Marc again and hope things go better this time. In 2020, I was a freshman and he was at a different level,” he explained. Looking ahead to the beginning of the season, 73 aims to “repair past mistakes” and not “set expectations too high.”
The next step will be the second pre-season test in Malaysia from February 6th to 8th, now in the colors of his new team. “In Qatar, Álex has a better chance of winning than me, but if he stays at home he will be fine,” predicted the eight-time champion. The Márquez-Gresini pairing has already begun.
You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on Facebook and Xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.