Marc Márquez has already been introduced to society as the new Gresini rider for MotoGP 2024. A nightclub in Riccione – a small city on the Adriatic coast – has been the setting chosen to officially kick off Márquez's new sporting stage. “I'm very happy, although I feel strange after so many years in the same team. “I am excited, like a child with new shoes,” Márquez acknowledged in what were his first words as a Ducati rider. It is the first time that the man from Cervera wears colors other than those of Repsol after eleven seasons with Honda. He is now in the ranks of Nadia Padovani's team, widow of Fausto Gresini, and rides a Ducati, the most regular motorcycle on the grid. “The Gresini team was the only one that waited for me, they gave me my time,” she explained. “We couldn't take it for granted that he could come, but we decided to take the risk and we succeeded,” Padovani celebrated.
Márquez's departure from the Japanese brand, when he still had one year left on his contract, was the big news of the 2023 season, after months of uncertainty around his future. “It was the right decision, although very difficult.” This is how Márquez has defined it. The Japanese motorcycle is not here for parties, Honda is lost and the current situation did not allow the pilot – he turns 31 on February 17 – to fight for the title with that mount. On the other hand, the Ducati is the best motorcycle in the category and the current champion right now.
The debut of the eight-time champion with his new motorcycle in Valencia left very good feelings, Gigi Dall'Igna's masterpiece brought Márquez's smile back on his first day. “I am very curious to arrive in Malaysia and continue understanding the bike, the team and finding my riding style with the Ducati. I want to continue learning, because my biggest rival is myself,” he acknowledged. The one from Cervera seems to be adapting well to his new team, to which he was not able to take his trusted group of mechanics and engineers. The structure led by Padovani has the 2023 version of the Ducati, as it is an independent team. And it is with her that the eldest Márquez seeks to enjoy again and rediscover his victories.
Márquez jumps to the champion bike without having won for more than two years. Knowing that “expectations are high,” the Catalan assures that his desire is to “be fast,” but that he needs to “be calm.” “I can't expect to win races from the beginning. 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. Being at the same level as them would not be normal,” he commented.
At his side, he will have his brother, who is facing his second year in the Italian team. “I arrived at a very difficult time, after two years without achieving good results at Honda. Last year was very good and now we have to continue improving,” explained Álex Márquez. “I want to go race by race and I am sure that good results will come. Winning a long race is a goal, we have to take a step forward,” he added. “I am very happy to once again have the opportunity to share a team with Marc and I hope this time it goes better. In 2020 I was a rookie and he was at another level,” he explained. Regarding the season that is about to begin, 73 seeks to “repair previous mistakes” and not “set expectations too high.”
The next step will be the second preseason test in Malaysia, from February 6 to 8, and now with 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,” the eight-time champion predicted. The Márquez-Gresini pairing has already begun.
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