Valencia
Six-times MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez made an immediate impact on his Ducati debut during the end-of-season test in Valencia. The Spanish rider, who recently announced his departure from Honda, showcased his skills by lapping fourth fastest for Gresini Racing. Marquez, donning the Gresini colors, tested the 2023 Desmosedici bike at the Ricardo Tormo circuit and quickly adapted to his new machinery. His performance saw him briefly go top of the timesheets before Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales claimed the fastest time. Brad Binder of KTM secured the second spot, with VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi finishing third. Gresini team manager Michele Masini expressed his delight, stating, Today was amazing, it was a really nice day… the feeling is great on both sides of the garage; about Marc I cannot speak too much but the lap time you can see. Marquez’s move to Ducati has been a significant development in the MotoGP landscape, and his positive start on the new bike has generated excitement among fans and the racing community. The Valencia test provided teams and riders with an opportunity to assess their performance and make adjustments ahead of the upcoming season. Francesco Bagnaia, a double world champion with the Ducati works team, focused on testing a new chassis during the session, finishing 11th. Luca Marini, who takes over Marquez’s position at Repsol Honda, also began his preparations for the upcoming season after transitioning from VR46. The official start of the 2024 season will see teams heading to Malaysia’s Sepang circuit for the first official test in February, setting the stage for another thrilling MotoGP campaign.
