The first laps of Marc Marquez on his new Ducati Gresini during the 2024 off-season test seem to have opened the passage to a post-sport world in MotoGP. The previous one would have ended a few days earlier on the same site in Valencia, concluding the 2023 campaign and crowning Pecco Bagnaia for the second time. At the same time, Marc Marquez closed this era by leaving his Honda. Since then, we only talk about him and his Ducati, and it must be said that the first meeting on the track between the man and his machine against the clock was like a warning shot to the competition. For some observers, it is even already a coup de grace, like Ben Spies...
Incidentally, there was not only the passage of Marc Marquez at Ducati Gresini which changed the appearance of the starting grid in MotoGP. In a period that was supposed to be the calm before the storm of 2024 with a view to 2025 and beyond in the transfer market, the 2023 vintage was turbulent to say the least. So, for the next campaign, only the factory teams of Lenovo, Red Bull KTM and Aprilia Racing will remain unchanged. Monster Yamaha, for its part, has committed alex rins instead of Franco Morbidely and Repsol Honda replaced Marc Marquez by Luca Marini.
But it is on the side of the satellite teams that things have changed the most. Of the six competing, only one driver duo remained unchanged. Bow Ducati brought in Franco Morbidelli in place of Johann Zarco, Honda LCR hired Zarco instead of Alex Rins, GASGAS Tech3 replaced Pol Espargaró with the Moto2 world champion Peter Acosta. Then Mooney VR46 had to exchange the Italian Luca marini salary. Fabio DiGiannantonio, while Gresini Racing therefore achieved the catch of the year, with Marc Marquez, in place of “Diggia”. The Aprilia customer team, fallen into turmoil, continues with Miguel Oliveira et Raul fernandez but in new colors.
Ben Spies: “ they just gave Marc Marquez a Ducati and over 40 races »
However, it is indeed a Marc Marquez equipped with the MotoGP of the moment to return to the forefront which is retained. And especially after Valencia's first contact. The eight-time world champion immediately showed himself to be very fast, as if he already knew the Desmosedici GP23 designed by Gigi Dall'Igna, general manager of Ducati Corse. A real performance, especially since we then learned that, as soon as this test was over, he went to the hospital to have surgery for compartment syndrome...
Among those who had their say on the Cervera rider's move to Ducati, there was Ben Spies, the 2009 Superbike champion who raced in MotoGP from 2008 to 2013 with Suzuki, Yamaha and Ducati. And the American’s opinion is clear to say the least: “ for some reason, I think the points gap between first and second place next year will be the biggest we've ever seen. They just gave Marc Marquez a Ducati and over 40 races ". Enough to paralyze the competition...
For some reason I'm thinking next years points gap from 1st to 2nd will be the biggest we have seen. They just gave Marc a Ducati and 40 more races.
— Ben Spies (@BenSpies11) November 28, 2023