The passage of time is kind to those who wait, which includes pretty much all MotoGP fans since Marc Marquez announced he was leaving Honda at the beginning of October. Finally, we now know when we will get our first glimpse of him in his new colours.
Leaving the orange, red, and white of Repsol Honda is a momentous occasion for Marquez, and therefore for MotoGP, too. It is also such for Gresini Racing, which has won races in the past two years since it swapped Aprilia RS-GP machinery for Ducati’s Desmosedici GP but which has never been considered a favourite for the premier class title in its history.
That changes in 2024, because Gresini has paired what will be the second-best bike on the grid by round five with the most talented rider in the paddock at the moment. Marc Marquez will either write a career-defining comeback next season, or his career will end - it seems more or less that simple.
The journey to whichever of those conclusions is born out in reality began on the Tuesday after the 2023 Valencia Grand Prix, but it will be formalised on 20 January 2024, a date confirmed today (20 December 2023) by the Gresini team for its 2024 team launch.
It will mark the beginning of a new era for Gresini, as it tries to create the dynastic utopia which lived in the dreams of Alberto Puig and Repsol Honda 42 months ago, only in a different colour. Success in this regard will be crucial to the continuation of this era beyond 2024, as Gresini will have to convince Marc Marquez that it is the best place for him to be, and that that place is not the factory KTM team, or the factory Ducati team.
The date of 20 January is also curious, because it is one day before the factory Ducati team will be launched in Madonna di Campiglio at the Italian marque’s Campioni in Pista event. There, defending double MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia will be presented alongside Enea Bastianini for the factory Ducati Lenovo team, and it seems likely that Bagnaia - affirmatively the best rider of the past two seasons - will be Marquez’ primary challenger for the 2024 title.
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