Gresini Racing Releases 2024 Livery

After previously hinting at the announcement for their 2024 livery unveil, Gresini Racing has now unveiled the new 2024 livery for both Alex and Marc Marquez. The release marked the first time in Marc Marquez’s MotoGP career where he isn’t suiting up in Repsol Honda orange. Marc Marquez made the decision to nullify his contract with Honda with one year left in the agreement to join the Gresini Racing team. His departure was mutually beneficial as Honda did not want to hold him back if he was unhappy.

Alex and Marc Marquez are finally reunited under the same banner after 4 long years since their Honda factory debut in 2020. Below are some of the images released by the team.

After making the switch to Gresini for the Valencia test, Marc Marquez has been quiet in the media due to contractual obligations with Honda. Now that those obligations are satisfied Marquez has released his first comments on the switch to Gresini.

“I was nervous and there were butterflies in my stomach,” stated Marquez in the exclusive interview with DAZN, “Even though I have been in the championship for many years, it was a big change. But afterward I stayed calm, relaxed. I made the day calm and relaxed by trying to understand everything with my new technical team and with my new motorcycle. In the end, you’re jumping onto the Champion’s bike, so it’s in your hands. 

It was a day of adaptation, mainly to the position on the bike. We changed some things because in some areas I didn’t feel completely comfortable, but the speed was there. I understood the bike and how to manage things. I still have a lot to learn, maybe not to go faster, but to be more consistent and much safer.”

Marquez Continued on Adapting to the Change

“I was able to adapt faster than expected because I immediately felt very good. There was a good feeling and the lap time came without massively looking for it. At the end of the day, we were able to put in new soft tyres and I also felt good.”

After a hard fought 2023 season that ended in despair for Jorge Martin. Martin has come out publicly with his thoughts on Ducati Factory support in 2024. In an interview with Europa press Martin said, “My main goal is to go to Ducati but, if it can’t be done, I’ll have to look at other options,” he warned.

“There are many factories that are making big steps, we’ll see what the best option is. I’m happy to continue at Pramac, it’s the best place to fight for a championship.” The statement comes after speculation at the end of the 2023 season around Martin’s distaste for the lack of factory Ducati support at Pramac. Its not surprise that Martin could explore his options if he feels he isn’t being given the best opportunity to win. His meteoric rise to the top of the championship fight in 2023 resulted in a mail biting finish that went down to the last race. Martin is looking to bounce back stronger than ever in 2024.

After his close loss in the 2023 title fight we all but wonder if this is the fuel he needs to edge out an on fire Francesco Bagnaia who now has secured his second MotoGP title. The season opener is three months where the riders will kick things off at Lusail for the Qatar GP.

With the MotoGP season now at its end, and the dust settled. Pol Espargaro begins his transition to his new life as a test rider for GASGAS and will not return for the 2024 season as a rider for the factory team. Espargaro had a year of ups and downs starting with what many thought would be a seasoning ending injury in Portimao where he suffers from a broken jaw and lung and back injuries. Despite all odds he made a full recovery and returned to the grid for the British Grand Prix.

Espargaro will move to a test rider position with GASGAS for the 2024 season after losing his seat to the 2023 Moto2 champion Pedro Acosta. Despite the setback Espargaro seemed to be in good spirits after the final race of the season in Valencia.

Espargaro Stated the Following After the Valencia GP

Every time I raised my head and I was looking at all the people in the stands, the noise, the tension, all my teammates around, all the guys that I have raced with since I was a little guy. It’s been amazing. I just feel so, so lucky to have been with you know living my life, my story, trying to chase my dreams through the last 10 years so I’m a very lucky guy.

A day to remember because, OK I have raced my last race as a permanent guy in MotoGP but obviously because I had those people surrounding me. This is with the people I live every day with, every hour, not just in racing but at home. It’s the people that make me happy so at the end of the day I need them from now till the end of my days so it was just amazing to be with them.”

The riggers of the MotoGP season takes is toll on riders. Espargaro comments on the need for time to rest after a long grueling season. “I need to take some rest. I need to recover myself a little bit. It’s been a while since I don’t feel as competitive as I should feel, but also with the confidence that I need to perform to be beside these guys. These guys are talented, young and extremely fit. If you don’t have all of these things, then you are too far away so you enjoy it.”

Where he will end up after 2024 is yet to be determined but if this is goodbye from riding in MotoGP he can hang his head high with his career accomplishments. In this sport its all about how you bounce back.

Trackhouse Racing a long standing staple organization in NASCAR has acquired the RNF Aprilia Racing team in a three year agreement that will see them to the MotoGP grid in 2024. The move comes after RNF CRYTODATA announce they would take legal action against Dorna for excluding the team from the 2024 MotoGP entrant list. With the Trackhouse deal, all threats of legal action are now off of the table.

From the Aprilia Racing Press Release…

Aprilia Racing has signed a three-year agreement with US outfit Trackhouse, already a major player in the NASCAR motorsport championship. Captained by former racer Justin Marks, the American team will bring the RS-GPs to the track as an Independent Team. Confirmed are riders Miguel Oliveira and Raùl Fernandez, in their second season riding the Italian prototypes.

A partnership that will see Aprilia Racing take charge of all technical aspects, collaborating closely with Trackhouse Racing on track and taking care of development during the season, through a dedicated structure that represents an important step forward in Aprilia’s MotoGP project.

Massimo Rivola – CEO Aprilia Racing

“We are happy and proud to welcome Trackhouse into the Aprilia Racing family. What they have been able to build in a very short time in NASCAR is an extraordinary presentation card, which anticipates the potential of this partnership. This is thanks to Justin Marks and his team, whom I got to know through my long-time friend PJ Rashidi, and with whom we were immediately in sync both in terms of technical ambitions and marketing and communication developments in such an important market as the US. Our commitment will increase significantly, a responsibility we gladly take on because, I am sure, it will allow us to grow even more”.

Words from the Involved Parties

Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing Founder and Owner:

“Joining the MotoGP World Championship is a very exciting moment for our young company. Trackhouse has worked from day one to recognize unique and compelling motorsport opportunities and being able to expand to a global series like MotoGP is a massive step in scaling the company. We believe deeply in the mission of Dorna and are committed to bringing something new and exciting to the championship while working hard to help grow and amplify this amazing sport to millions of new fans in North America and beyond.”

Carlos Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports Chief Sporting Officer: “We’re super happy to welcome Trackhouse to MotoGP. We know this new team is a perfect fit for our sport: they’ve already shown they know how to win and arrive with a great personality. In the most competitive era the sport has ever seen, it’s even more vital than ever to have strong Independent Teams on the grid with solid projects. Trackhouse working with Aprilia, who will offer extensive support, is a really exciting prospect too. The RS-GP is a winning motorcycle and the combination of the bike, factory and Trackhouse’s approach with this team is something super exciting for MotoGP fans everywhere. We can’t wait to see Trackhouse come racing with us.”

Dan Rossomondo, Dorna Sports Chief Commercial Officer: “Trackhouse coming to MotoGP is great news. They get it – the racing success, which they’ve had plenty of already – and the marketing and promotion that comes with running a top level motorsport team. That combination of operational excellence, paired with their expertise off-track, is a standard we want throughout MotoGP. We know Trackhouse’s influence will be positive and an ally for our business objectives.”

The post season speculation has started with the most prominent story being Marc Marquez and his performance on his new Gresini Ducati during the Valencia season ending test. Marquez looked right at home on his new Ducati; something many anticipated before the move was complete. Now the the 2023 season has come to a close and Marc Marquez has finally undergone a much needed surgery. Marquez has been suffering from compartment syndrome also known as arm pump for the majority of the second half of the season. With the post season break it was the perfect opportunity to utilize some low stress healing time.

The Opinions on Marquez are Mixed At the Moment

While some praised Marquez’s pace in the Valencia Test others still had a bad taste in their mouth from the events that unfolded during the final race of the season. Marco Bezzecchi has been the most vocal in opposition to Marquez. Bezzecchi stated the following in an interview with DAZN following the Valencia Grand Prix, “Marquez decided to end my race in the third corner.  He did the same thing he did to me in Thailand. He hit me on the back. The problem is that this time he hit me much harder, and I hurt my shoulders and on my left foot. His style doesn’t deserve much explanation.

They decided not to show the replay because the action was very dirty. It’s Marquez, so no one can touch him. They investigate, but they don’t do anything. The stewards never touch Marc. He is the dirtiest rider in MotoGP.” Marquez simply responded by saying, “I’m not going to waste my time with this character, so next.”

Others Have a More Positive Outlook on Marquez and His Future

“The smile after his first run isn’t good news for the competition!” – Dani Pedrosa.

“When he signed with Gresini I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he was fastest at these tests, so I was close!”- Francesco Bagnaia

“I’ve already checked Marc’s data to see his style and it was really good from the start, so he was really fast, really quickly.” – Enea Bastianini. 

One thing is certain, with 8 riders on almost equal machinery on the grid in 2024. It could be anyone’s championship next year. Bagnaia had a successful year to secure his third world title but now that Marquez is in a groove it may be another and possibly the last chance we get to see Marquez make a run for another MotoGP championship. The build up to the 2024 season will be something to keep eyes on as the riders develop more chemistry with their teams and they all come back well rested for the long 2024 campaign.

Do you think Marquez will return to his dominant form in 2024? Let us know what you think here: Will Marquez Dominate in 2024?

Given the most recent drama with the CryptoDATA RNF Team being denied entry into the 2024 MotoGP season. The team has released the following statement.

From CryptoData RNF Racing…

“Dear partners, motorsport fans and media representatives,

Our team, CryptoDATA RNF, is dealing with a paradoxical situation, which seems taken from a comedy film, but with much more serious side effects. Dorna, the governing organisation of MotoGP, approached us with a kind of proposal worthy of Hollywood scripts: to sell our team at a bargain price. We thought of asking them for an autograph as well, to remember such a “generous’ offer.

The story begins in 2023, when Dorna promised an American team a spot in the championship, possibly the 12th, which, oh surprise, was vacant! We can already imagine the discussions in the Dorna offices: “Let’s give the Americans 12th or CryptoDATA. What could go wrong?” Well, a lot.

After turning down KTM on the grounds that 12th was “reserved for a factory”, they realised they couldn’t offer our place without our consent. Then they came up with a buyout offer so low I thought it was a joke. I politely declined, but the pressure didn’t stop.

Now, it seems Dorna wants to knock us out of the Championship in 2024, citing reasons so creative they could write a novel. Despite a contract valid until 2026, it seems that their slogan is ‘My championship, my unwritten rules… the ones written in the contracts don’t matter”.

We’re not just disappointed, we’re ready to fight back. After a month of intensive documentation and preparation for such a situation, we will go to court with a demand for substantial compensation for damage to our business and reputation, and for the limitation of participation in the championship.

We close this release with a message for Dorna: even in motorsport, where speed is of the essence, ethics and legality should not be overridden. We look forward to seeing each other on the courts with the same passion we met on the track.

BTW, stay tuned, we will soon make public the “orchestrated spiciness” behind the show that fans watch on TV.

Respectfully,

That Romanian who will overturn their chariot
Ovidiu Toma

Its clear that a legal battle between the team and Dorna is on the horizon. We will continue to report on this story as it develops.

Just as the MotoGP season ended, the first test day for the riders was upon us. Riders in one team’s colors this past weekend are now in a completely new camp. With the 2024 MotoGP field now set, riders looked to get acquainted for the first time with their new machinery. One such rider was non other than Marc Marquez who crashed out of the final race of 2023.

The Valencia Test was the first opportunity to see Marquez on a Ducati alongside his brother Alex Marquez as the two will race for Gresini Racing in 2024. Marc did not disappoint. He was the fourth fastest on the day solidifying that the move was a positive one for him and he felt right at home. Fastest on the day was Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales who fell behind in the championship fight early in the 2023 season without ever finding the rhythm to make a meaningful run for the title. However, starting fastest in testing is always a good metric to see where you stand against the others in the early stages of development.

Acosta Makes Debut

Pedro Acosta made his MotoGP debut at the test day in Valencia. After winning the 2023 Moto2 championship Acosta was eager to get as much time on the new MotoGP bike as possible. He stated the following, “I am super happy with our first day because we improved all day and we leave Valencia with a big step made already!

The first run, we did not touch anything, we just tried to understand what it was being on a MotoGP bike, how the carbon disks work, and everything else in general. Then we tried to focus on the devices, on the brakes, then the electronics so I could have a clear idea of each area. This has helped us understand how we will need to approach the winter period, and what we need to do to arrive in Malaysia prepared, so we can make another step.” Acosta finished 18th fastest on the day.

Brad Binder Showing no Signs of Slowing Down

Brad Binder ran second fastest on the test day. After what seemed like a sure 1-2 finish in the season finale for KTM. Luck did not seem to fall their way. Binder however look hungry as ever for progress. He stated, “Today we tried a few different things with aero, some exhausts. We didn’t have anything big or radical but we learnt a lot about what we did use, and that’s the most important thing. We played with some electronics to try and put the bike a bit more ‘in our hands’ and that was cool but there is still some room to work. Everything was pretty much the first starting point towards the next test in Malaysia.”  

Full Valencia Test Day Results

After many months of contract signings and negotiation. The 2024 MotoGP grid is finally set. The latest signing came at the very last hour with Fabio Di Giannantonio signing with VR46 for the 2024 season alongside Marco Bezzecchi. With the season over and all moves confirmed the riders can enjoy the winter test day which is set to take place later today in Valencia at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

The 2024 MotoGP Grid

The Valencia Grand prix was set to be a showdown that would see Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia and Jorge Martin fight until the the final lap to decide the 2023 world championship. However, that epic finish did no come as Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez came together and crashed on lap 5 of the 27 lap race. Martin was attempting to fight through the pack from P7 while maintaining a 1.8 second gap to Bagnaia who was failing to pull away from the pack.

However, due to what the stewards deemed as a racing incident Marquez made contact with the front wheel of Martin’s Ducati which resulted in Martin running off track and Marquez high siding ending any championship hopes Martin had with 22 laps to go in the race. The incident denied MotoGP fans the closing lap show down we all hoped for. Martin was visibly distraught after the incident.

The Aftermath

Martin was clearly disappointed but offered his congratulations to Bagnaia after the race. Marquez had the following words:

“Of course it was a super emotional Sunday, honestly a super emotional week and it was hard at some points to contain the feelings. Sadly, we didn’t finish the race today, I was feeling really strong today and I honestly think a podium was possible today and even maybe more. It wasn’t our mistake, and I don’t push against Martin because he was in attack mode. It happens when you’re fighting for a championship.

But the most important thing today is to remember all of the incredible times I have had with HRC and the Repsol Honda Team, they will be the team of my life. We have written an incredible story together and they have become more than just my team, they have become my friends and my family. Thank you for everything since 2013, I will not forget any of you.”

Bagania is a Three Time World Champion

Francesco Bagnaia automatically secured the championship on lap 5 when Martin crashed out of the race. However, he ended up with a win in the final race of the season making it 2 MotoGP championships in a row that followed his first in Moto2 in 2018. Bagnaia had the following words:

Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team)
“I’m super happy, more than this is impossible, also because we won the race so it’s fantastic. I want to say a big thanks to all the team, they did an amazing job, from Barcelona, it was quite tough for us, but we deserved this title more than anyone. I didn’t see anything behind me, I was thinking Jorge was still in the race, and I was quite scared about that…I just was thinking of winning the race because it was the best way to finish the season.”

KTM Drops the Ball

After being notified of Martin’s exit during the race via his team pit board; Bagnaia appeared to relax and settle in on the moment on track. What he did not realize is that he’d being finishing the race in first place after both KTMs made catastrophic mistakes out front. First it was Brad Binder who ran wide in turn 10 and had to take an escape lane leading to Binder losing multiple positions on lap 16. Then on lap 19 Jack Miller crashed out of the race after a low side in the same turn from the lead. KTM was visibly gutted after giving up a potential 1-2 with two individual mistakes. However, Binder was able to fight back to secure a P3 finish to salvage a consolation on the day. Binder and Miller had the following words after the race.

Comments from the Binder and Miller

Brad Binder, 3rd: “A 3^rd place is a 3^rd place, even if we didn’t actually go to the podium! I gave away a couple of podiums this year, so I know it’s not fun. Anyway, quite cool to finish in 3^rd after coming close. I took an un-needed Long Lap but did well to save the crash because the front tire had been cooling down. A tricky day. I tried to fight my way back through but had no rear tire left at the end. We won two Sprints this year but it would have been good to sign off with a main victory. We just need a little bit more in this off-season to fight. Thanks to all my crew. We’ve made a big step this year and there’s more to come.”

Jack Miller, DNF: “Not much to say. I didn’t do much different compared to the previous lap. I’d had a few moments with the front so decided to take it easy and not do anything too savage and, yeah, she just got away from me. It could have been an amazing result…but we’ll take stock and bounce back. It has been a year of firsts in many ways and a bittersweet way to end because it’s nice to know we have pace and we’re heading in the right direction. We have been working our butts off. The rider is just one small part because there is so much going on behind the scenes. It’s a battle to better a MotoGP during a season like this and with the small window. Everyone has worked tirelessly, so I thank them all for that.”

Full Valencia Grand Prix Result are Below

Final MotoGP World Standings