In 2025, Marc Marquez joins the factory Ducati MotoGP team alongside double world champion Francesco Bagnaia. Marquez, an eight-time world champion, recently tested the factory-spec Ducati at the post-season Barcelona test and placed fourth, just behind his new team-mate. In the 2024 season, Marquez competed with the satellite Gresini squad using year-old machinery, still managing to win three grands prix.
Despite his past success, Marquez is now a different rider due to the injuries he faced in 2020. He is expected to contend for a ninth world title in the upcoming season. Marquez’s strategy for his comeback to a factory team in 2024 will involve a clear goal of joining the factory Ducati team, according to Crash Senior Journalist Lewis Duncan. His actions since riding a bike last November indicate a determined focus on achieving this objective, with a well-defined vision for his future evident throughout the year.
The upcoming version of Marquez is expected to differ from the factory Honda team, as the factory Honda and factory Ducati teams present distinct challenges. Marquez is likely to adopt a more focused attitude, with the anticipation of contending for the championship despite his claims of taking a gradual approach. His performance on the dated GP23 at the Barcelona race, compared to the promising new factory bike, indicates significant progress. Marquez has acknowledged his tendency to take victory for granted in the past, suggesting a more thoughtful racing strategy moving forward. After facing challenges, each victory holds greater significance for him now.
This heightened value of wins is a result of his transition to a new team, where every major achievement is celebrated as a significant milestone. Maintaining this perspective and joy for racing will further enhance his performance. Jordan Moreland, Crash Social Media Manager and podcast host, emphasizes the importance of the supportive environment, his passion for racing, and the positive influence of those around him on his success.
Examining the situation from another angle, we can see that in the case of Bagnaia, his team plays a crucial role. Ducati has been his team for a considerable period, which sets him apart from the scenario where Marquez joined Repsol Honda as a rookie alongside Dani Pedrosa, with Casey Stoner being a dominant figure due to his victories over Pedrosa. The current situation with Bagnaia is distinct as he has matured over the years, making his emotions more visible and allowing him to express his true feelings effectively. In the past, Marquez had a stoic demeanor, revealing little of his intentions.
How will this strategy fare when joining Bagnaia’s team? Although we have only witnessed it briefly during testing, Marquez may need to be more patient and strategic in asserting his dominance at the right time. Peter McLaren, the MotoGP Editor for Crash, observes parallels between Marc Marquez’s current career stage and Valentino Rossi’s later years in MotoGP. Reflecting on Marquez’s lengthy tenure in MotoGP, McLaren notes the inevitable evolution of riders and the sport itself.
Marc, who is now 31 years old, is considered a seasoned rider in the MotoGP world. Like Valentino Rossi, he has transitioned from being a super fast and explosive rider in his early years. Despite facing a significant injury, it is inevitable for riders competing at the MotoGP level for a prolonged period to experience such setbacks. It was inevitable that this transition would occur eventually, shifting the focus from speed to experience. We witnessed this with Rossi, who demonstrated that one can still compete for championships even as they age – as seen in his near victory in 2015. Marc is currently at a stage in his career where he has shown significant progress.
This year, he has been more cautious in his approach, resulting in a higher rate of finishing races. Despite experiencing several accidents during practice sessions, Marc has consistently outperformed his counterparts on the same bike. This signifies a notable evolution in Marc’s skills as a rider.
