Mooney VR46 Racing announce that Luca Marini will be retained for the 2024 season. Marini will race along side Marco Bezzecchi who also recently inked a deal to remain with the Mooney VR46 side in 2024. In a press release Mooney VR46 Racing provided the following words from Marini and members of team leadership.
Luca Marini: “Remaining in the Mooney VR46 Racing Team also in 2024 is for me a question of trust in a very close-knit working group, which has believed in me for many years. As a Team, we will do everything to achieve our goals the next season. Not only Vale, Uccio and Pablo whom I thank, but the whole technical Team that supports me and Ducati. Being among the protagonists of the 2024 season, fighting for the Championship as a rider and as a Team is certainly a real ambition.”
Alessio Salucci, Team Director: “I am very pleased to be able to confirm that Luca will also stay with us in 2024. It will be the seventh season with the Team and this is a truly significant recognition of trust for all of us and all our partners who support the project. Confirming a growing Team with the support of Ducati has a symbolic meaning. Luca is a hard worker, always precise, focused on details and this is a real plus in today’s MotoGP. Fast, constant and very solid, I think he has collected less than he deserved so far and I hope he can do his best in these remaining races and in the future.”
Pablo Nieto, Team Manager: “Our 2024 line up is complete and I am very happy to have confirmed both riders. The extension of Luca’s contract for another year means a big boost of confidence for everyone in the Team. A solid working group, with the support of Ducati, built two years ago and which, thanks to the commitment of everyone, including our partners, is achieving ambitious results. Luca is now a certainty in the MotoGP Championship, always constantly among the first guys and I’m sure he will be able to obtain many satisfactions in the future.”
In an extreme turn of events for the MotoGP championship. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) secured a double win this weekend at the Catalan GP. Espargaro won both the Sprint race and Grand Prix securing him maximum points on the weekend. However, the story of the day is that championship leader Francesco Bagnaia suffered from a high side crash requiring him to be transported tot he hospital. On the opening lap of the race Baganaia crashed out from the lead. He was also ran over by another rider who had no where to go. After being transported to the hospital MotoGP™ Medical Director Dr. Angel Charte has offered an update on the status of the reigning World Champion to Spanish broadcaster DAZN.
“Pecco has had severe polytrauma, a motorbike ran over him in the femoral and tibial area. We have taken x-rays of this area and have detected a small injury that we don’t know if it is current or old. We need to do an urgent CAT scan and that is why we have sent him to the general hospital. At cranial, thoracic and abdominal levels, he has been normal at all times. He was conscious and oriented. The image we have seen is from conventional radiology, so it is difficult to be sure that there is no fracture. It is necessary to do a CAT scan,” We will provide updates as the doctors confirm his overall condition.
Elsewhere on the Grid
In second place Maverick Viñales completed the 1-2 for Aprilia Racing. However, the MotoGP stewards issued Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) an official warning following Sunday’s race. Viñales was found to be running tire pressures lower than the parameters which MotoGP’s official technical partner Michelin recommends. This is a new requirement that MotoGP is giving teams time to acclimate to. Because this is Viñales first offense he received a warning.
In third was second place championship sitter Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) who cut into the lead Bagnaia held after the Sprint Race. Bagnaia came into the weekend with a 62 point lead which has now dropped to a 50 point lead. As we potentially await the verdict on whether Bagnaia will be out for an extended period. The injury could have major implications on the championship. Martin’s Prima Pramac Racing Johann Zarco finished fourth.
It was a rough day for the Ducati Lenovo team as both riders did not finish the race. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) did not do himself any favors in his championship fight finishing P12. He remains in third place but his grasp on the top spot is slipping away.
Full Race Results are Below
World Championship standings after the Catalan GP
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) won the Catalan GP sprint race beating out Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) who started from pole position. The riders got away cleanly on the first lap without incident. Spots of rain were present in different areas of the track. The rain was not enough to warrant wet bikes. Espargaro held on to Bagnaia for the first half of the race. With 6 laps left he made the pass and wouldn’t look back. Espargaro was able to extend his lead by 2 seconds after taking the win. He celebrated with a wheelie down the front straight.
Espargaro’s teammate Maverick Viñales wasn’t able to hold on to the two at the front for the majority of the race. Eventually as Espargaro pulled away be gained ground on Bagnaia. Bagnaia played the ultimate defensive game and was able to keep Viñales at bay. Viñales was able to lock down third overall ahead of Brad Binder (KTM). Second place championship point sitting Jorge Martin finished 5th. The finish allowed Bagnaia to gain 4 points on Martin in the championship race.
Full Catalan GP Sprint Race Results are Below
World Championship Standings
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) topped practice ahead of teammate Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). The pair were separated by 0.362 seconds. Viñales finished just 0.013 seconds ahead of championship leader Francesco Bagnaia. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Brand Binder (KTM) rounded out the top five. Espargaro broke the lap record during the session setting a 1m38.686s.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) started practice off with grip issues and fell back in the pecking order to P20. After making some changes Bagnaia was able to improve to third but questions are looming as to if the Ducati will be able to bounce back from an issue in qualifying with less time to make adjustments. Bagnaia currently holds a 62 point lead in the championship. A win this weekend is imperative with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) knocking on the door.
After crashing in FP1 Marc Marquez finished the session main practice. Marquez complained of an issue with his thumb but it did not eliminate from the practice session. It was a very poor practice session for the Japanese manufacturers. The Yamaha and Honda teams finished at the very bottom of the table filling the last 6 positions. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) finished P17 the leader of the bottom six.
Full Catalan GP Practice Results are Below
Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed that Enea Bastianini will remain with the factory squad in 2024 alongside Francesco Bagnaia. Bastianini missed the majority of the beginning of the 2023 season due to injury and never really was in championship contention due to Bagnaia’s early dominance. As reported by MotoGP.com, Tardozzi said, “We confirmed officially that Enea will be with us next year too. He deserves another year with the factory bike because of what he has done in the past.”
Bastianini after he broke his shoulder blade at the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix. The injury forced Bastianini to sit out until the Italian Grand Prix in Bologna.
With the announcement the Ducati Lenovo Team have locked their lineup for 2024. The teams that have not yet announced full lineups are Prima Pramac, Gresini Racing and Mooney VR46. We will report back in the coming weeks as we near the end of the season.
After some back and forth speculation as to whether Bezzecchi would be parting ways with the Mooney VR46 Racing team. The team has announced that Bezzecchi will be staying with the team at least until the end of 2024. The move is welcomed by fans as Bezzecchi made his MotoGP debut with the team and they have some unfinished business in the championship fight. Valentino Rossi has been vocal about his desire for Bezzecchi to stay with the team. The delay came due to Bezzecchi wanting a shot from a Ducati factory team. However, that opportunity never came to fruition on paper. Bezzecchi and Team Director Alessio Salucci had the following words regarding the decision.
Marco Bezzecchi – 72
“I am really happy to confirm that in 2024 I will be on track with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. This Team has been crucial to my career until now and into the future. I arrived here in 2020, in Moto2, we then landed together in 2022 in MotoGP and this year we had an incredible season so far. Continuing to grow in this working group, with the support of Ducati, is the most natural choice for me. 2024 brings with it many expectations, but right now I want to focus on this season. We are currently fighting for the podium in the Championship, we have the Team Title open with Luca and I am sure that everyone in the Team will give their all, even more than they have done so far, to achieve these goals. Thanks to Vale, Uccio, Pablo, the VR46 Riders Academy and all those who made this possible. Remaining in the Vale Team is a great motivation as well as a pride”.
Alessio Salucci, Team Director
“I cannot hide the satisfaction of having signed this agreement with Marco. Not only because he represents a bet won within a long growth path in our Team from Moto2, but for the entire working group and also for all our partners, whom we thank for their support, and the fans who follow us. It was essential to be able to continue another year and I have to thank all those who collaborate with the management of the Team, Vale and Pablo for the collective work that has led us to achieve this goal. I’m happy because I know how much means for Marco to stay here in our Family. As a Team, together with Ducati, we will give him all the resources and commitment available to continue working with the same serenity and Team spirit that has allowed us to achieve extraordinary goals this season”.
Over the past week speculation has risen for multiple riders and their plans for the 2024 MotoGP season. The latest being Johann Zarco announcing his departure from Prima Pramac Racing. Zarco is headed for LCR Honda in a very questionable move from one of the fastest bike programs on the grid to the absolute slowest. It is a mystery but many suspect it is about the money and longevity of contract. Here is how the current grid stands.
Aprilia Racing
Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales will retain their seats for the 2024 season. There are no changes to the Aprilia Racing team for 2024.
Ducati Lenovo Team
Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini will retain their seats for the 2024 season. There are no changes to the Ducati Lenovo team.
Gresini Racing MotoGP
Alex Marquez is contracted through 2024. Currently Fabio di Giannantonio is contracted until the end of this year. No announcements have been made on his future with the team or elsewhere for 2024.
Prima Pramac Racing
Jorge Martin is contracted through 2024. Johann Zarco has confirmed he is leaving Prima Pramac to head to LCR Honda. There is an open seat at Prima Pramac Racing as of now. We are awaiting an announcement on Zarco’s potential replacement.
LCR Honda Castrol
Johann Zarco has been confirmed to join the LCR Honda side for 2024. Takaaki Nakagami still has not signed a contract for 2024. Alex Rins will be departing the team to join Monster Energy Yamaha.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team
Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins will fill the seats for Yamaha in 2024. Franco Morbidelli is leaving the Yamaha side but does not yet have a home for 2024.
Mooney VR46 Racing Team ???
Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi both have contracts that expire at the end of 2023. Valentino Rossi has made it clear he wishes to retain Bezzecchi on the team but no official contract has been signed. Luca Marini’s future is implied but again no official contract has been signed to date. We cannot confirm that Marini is exempt from a move for 2024 at this time.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Jack Miller and Brad Binder are both locked into contracts until the end of 2024 or beyond. There will be no moves at KTM Racing for 2024.
Repsol Honda Team
Both Marc Marquez and Joan Mir will be staying with Repsol Honda for 2024. Marquez was rumored to be exiting the Honda side after a very disappoint 2023 campaign so far this year. He was tied to a KTM Racing move but with Binder and Miller both having contracts in place for 2024 there is no room for such a move. This gossip can be put to rest.
RNF MotoGP Team
Both Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez are contracted with RNF through 2024. We do not anitipate any changes to the team for 2024.
Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing
Both Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez are contracted through 2024. We do not anticipate any changes to the team for next year.
We will continue to report updates on the contract signing in the MotoGP paddock as they become available.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) pulls the double for the weekend leaving Austria with maximum points after winning the Austrian Grand Prix and Sprint races. The wins came at a key moment in the season where Bagnaia was losing ground to his competitors queuing up a dramatic finish to the season. It appears that that drama will have to hold off for now as Bagnaia extended his championship lead to 62 points over Jorge Martin. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) finished P3 for a bit of damage control after a disappointing Sprint race yesterday. His teammate Luca Marini finished behind in fourth.
Brand Binder stayed consistent this weekend finishing P2 in both the Grand Prix and Sprint Race. Binder sits P4 in the championship after this weekend trailing Bezzecchi by 23 points. The KTM’s seem fired up as of recent. Bind has made strides in the past few races. While championship contention isn’t quite in the discussion yet; being 91 points behind Bagnaia. KTM Racing has proved they are in MotoGP to compete.
Marc Marquez Finishes a Grand Prix
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) finally completed a Grand Prix in Austria and finished P12. This was the first race he has completed this season after suffering from multiple crashes and injuries this year. His brother Alex Marquez secured another top 5 finish for Gresini Racing MotoGP. Marquez scored 4 points for the finish. However, Repsol Honda suffered yet another crash in the case of Joan Mir. Crashes have been an issue for Repsol Honda. Mir hasn’t finished a Grand prix since the series was in Portimao. Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez also did not finish the race.
Below are the Race Results
Championship Standings
Francesco Bagnaia wins the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint Race at the Red Bull Ring. Bagnaia dominated the race; winning the race by over 2 seconds. Bagnaia was in a mood today as he came off of a blistering qualifying placing him on Pole for Sunday’s race. He wasn’t finished and the win makes the statement that the reigning champion has not fallen out of form recently. Brad Binder (KTM) continues to impress and improve. Binder has moved up one position each session this weekend. Binder finishes second in the sprint showing the strides KTM have made over the season to drastically reach championship contending pace. There is a long way to go in the season so anything is possible but for now Bagnaia hold reign over the grid.
Jorge Martin who sits 2nd in the MotoGP championship finished third for a good points finish to keep him ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing). Bezzecchi did not finish the sprint race and thus score zero points. Rounding out the top 5 was the Gresini Racing Ducati of Alex Marquez in fourth and Alex Miller in fifth. KTM was able to put both bikes in the top 5 again this season. A great result for the KTM side.
After suffering a seemingly season ending injury Espargaro has worked his way towards getting back to racing form. Espargaro finished P6 in the sprint race. His best finish since returning from injury. His Brother Aleix who won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone finished behind Pol in P7 in the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint.
One man who was happy to get back in the points is Marc Marquez. Marquez had the following comments after the sprint, “It was an interesting Sprint, when I tried the new aero yesterday I knew more or less what would happen in the Sprint – and it did happen. So it was good in a way to understand this new aero more. We’ve been working with a lot of different setups over the weekend, but we have a clear idea for what to do tomorrow. We benefitted a lot from the falls of others, we have to be honest. Without this we would have been in 15th position more or less. We keep on working and see what we can achieve in tomorrow’s main race.”
Full Sprint Race Results are Below
Franceso Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) secured pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix after setting a 1m28.539 in qualifying this morning. The finish marks his 50th consecutive front row start in MotoGP. The lap came in the closing seconds of the qualifying session. Bagnaia had previously posted a time that secured him third fastest but pushed on for an addition lap which would be the one to give him pole position in Austria. Bagnaia secured pole by a margin of 0.037 seconds. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) finished P2 ahead of Brad Binder (KTM). Binder who was fourth fastest in Practice improved one position.
The Red Bull Ring is a home race for the KTM side. Binder’s teammate Alex Miller will start P4 on the grid. The two will try to improve to shoot for a double podium this weekend. Both bikes are in striking distance as long as they stay poised. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) will have his work cut out for him starting P7 in a difficult and disappointing qualifying for the Italian. All 23 riders on grid completed the session.
Full Qualifying Results are Below