Marc Márquez to join Gresini Racing after recent MotoGP struggles at Honda
Marc Márquez waves to fans after qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix
‘A new challenge’: Marc Márquez is leaving the Repsol Honda team after 11 years. Photograph: Shuji Kajiyama/AP
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Six-time world champion moves to Ducati satellite team
Márquez and Honda agree to end contract one year early
Marc Márquez, the six-time MotoGP world champion, will join Gresini Racing for the 2024 season, the Ducati satellite team said on Thursday.
The announcement comes days after Honda confirmed the Spaniard would be leaving their team at the end of the 2023 campaign. Márquez and the Japanese manufacturer agreed to end their four-year contract a year early, ending an 11-year association.
“I’m excited with this new challenge. It wasn’t an easy decision because it’s a big change in every way,” Márquez said in a statement. “But sometimes in life it’s important to get out of the comfort zone … in order to keep growing.”
After suffering a series of injuries and coming close to retiring, Márquez has struggled with an uncompetitive Honda bike this season, his best finish being third place in a rain-hit and shortened Japanese Grand Prix.
Honda have not been able to match the pace of the Ducati bikes, with Márquez attempting to ride his bike beyond its limits and crashing several times. The 30-year-old is now switching to a Ducati machine, joining the dominant force in MotoGP from the last two seasons.
“Bike-change wise, I know I will have to adapt my riding style to a few things, and it won’t be easy. But I’m also sure that the whole Team Gresini will help me a lot,” Márquez added.
Marc Márquez crashes during the first free practice session at the Moto Grand Prix of Catalonia
Marc Márquez crashes during the first free practice session at the Moto Grand Prix of Catalonia. Photograph: Lluís Gené/AFP/Getty Images
“This is a historical moment for the Gresini Family,” the Gresini principal and team owner, Nadia Padovani Gresini, said. “The fact that Marc Márquez chose to race with us in the upcoming season is absolutely fantastic, and I’m extremely happy to be able to
make it official.”
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