Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team (motorsport.com)
In a significant move for the 2024 MotoGP season, eight-time world champion Marc Marquez has been officially announced as part of the Gresini Racing team, marking his departure from Honda after an 11-year tenure. Marquez’s decision to join Gresini Racing was made following mutual agreement with Honda, paving the way for the Spanish rider’s next challenge.
Gresini Racing’s Team Boss, Nadia Padovani, expressed her enthusiasm, stating that Marc Marquez’s choice to join their team for the upcoming season is a “historical moment” for the Gresini family. She highlighted the team’s readiness to welcome Marquez and their belief in his potential to be competitive from the beginning.
Notably, Marc Marquez will be reunited with his younger brother, Alex Marquez, who is already part of the Gresini Racing team riding a Ducati in the 2023 season. The Marquez brothers will both compete on 2023-spec Ducati machines, strengthening their familial connection within the team.
The announcement of Marc Marquez’s move to Gresini Racing had been highly anticipated and is in line with the team’s sponsorship activities in the lead-up to the Indonesian Grand Prix.
However, Marc Marquez’s decision to sign only a one-year deal instead of the two-year contract proposed by Gresini Racing indicates his intent to keep his options open for the 2025 season. This move means he cannot bring any of his current Honda team members with him, as Ducati is cautious about engineers potentially leaving in 2025 and potentially carrying trade secrets with them.
Looking ahead, Honda is reportedly considering Miguel Oliveira from RNF Aprilia as a potential replacement for Marc Marquez at the factory squad in 2024. Oliveira is currently contracted to Aprilia for 2024, but rumors suggest he may have a clause in his contract allowing him to leave early if offered a deal by a factory team, although Aprilia has denied this claim.
Marc Marquez’s move to Gresini Racing promises an exciting 2024 MotoGP season and sets the stage for new challenges and opportunities in his already illustrious career.