Marc Marquez officially announced with Gresini Ducati for 2024 MotoGP
The worst-kept secret in MotoGP is out - Marc Marquez will join Gresini Ducati for 2024 as the team officially announces the news.
The Gresini Ducati MotoGP has officially announced the news that Marc Marquez will be joining the team for the 2024 MotoGP season.
The news broke this morning on the official Gresini Racing website.
The full statement can be read below.
The Gresini Family is pleased to announce the arrival of Marc Marquez for the 2024 season. The Spanish rider, a multi-time World Champion, recently announced his separation with Honda and starting from next season, he will be the new standard bearer of Team Gresini MotoGP alongside his brother Alex.
This is a dream pair the one made by the Marquez brothers, with Marc that will get back into play with a satellite team that has already shown it belongs with the best since the squad’s return to the status of independent team in the premier class.
The news ends months of speculation around the Spaniard's future in the sport, and means Marquez leaves the Honda fold, a company he has been intrinsically bonded to for the last eleven years.
In the statement from Gresini, Marquez speaks of his excitement at getting to grips with the Desmosedici GP machine, going on to make it clear that he understands changes will be needed to adjust his riding style.
“I’m excited with this new challenge. It wasn’t an easy decision because it’s a big change in every way. But sometimes in life it’s important to get out of the comfort zone and put yourself through the paces in order to keep growing. Bike-chance wise, I know I will have to adapt my riding style to a few things, and it won’t be easy. But I’m also sure that the whole Team Gresini will help me a lot. I can’t wait to get to know the team and start working with them. I’d like to thank Nadia, Carlo and Michele for the trust and respect they showed me."
❤️ #MM93 pic.twitter.com/8hvGEjsfA5
— Marc Márquez (@marcmarquez93) October 4, 2023
The news that Marquez is joining the Gresini team comes less than a week after he and HRC confirmed he was to leave, the full statement issued at that time can be found below.
‘Honda Racing Corporation and Marc Marquez have mutually elected to terminate their four-year contract prematurely at the end of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season.
‘With a year still remaining on the four-year contract between HRC and Marc Marquez, both parties have mutually agreed to end their collaboration upon completion of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season. Both parties agreed it was in their best interests to each pursue other avenues in the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets.
‘This brings an end to 11 years of collaboration between the #93 and HRC in which they achieved six premier class World Championships, five Triple Crowns, 59 wins, 101 podiums and 64 pole positions together.
‘Marquez took his debut victory in the premier class aboard the Honda RC213V at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2013 to become the youngest premier class winner and would become the youngest premier class World Champion later that year. In 2014 he defended his title and won the opening 10 consecutive races of year, going on to also claim titles in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as an HRC rider with the Repsol Honda Team.
‘Both parties will continue to give their full support for the remaining rounds of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season.
‘HRC wish Marc Marquez the best in his future endeavors.’
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
