Óscar Haro, former sports chief of the LCR Honda Team, shared his insights on the upcoming 2024 MotoGP season, focusing on Marc Márquez’s adaptation to the Ducati GP23 and Jorge Martín’s future in the championship. Speaking on the Italian program Paddock TV, Haro discussed the performance of these two Spanish riders, who are currently attracting significant attention.
Haro believes Marc Márquez will be a contender from the start. Despite Márquez not setting the fastest times in preseason testing, Haro feels confident that Márquez’s calm demeanor and comfort with the Ducati during the Valencia tests indicate his potential competitiveness. Haro also mentioned that Ducati is keenly analyzing Márquez’s telemetry data, suggesting that his unique riding style could contribute significantly to the development of the Desmosedici.
Regarding Jorge Martín, Haro expressed concern about Martín’s disillusionment with Ducati, suggesting that Martín feels he deserves a spot on the official team. Haro predicts that Martín, given his good relationship with Aleix Espargaró, is likely to join Aprilia in 2025 as Espargaró’s teammate. He speculates that Martín’s options are limited to factory teams, with Aprilia being a more competitive choice than Honda at the moment.
Haro draws parallels between Martín’s situation and that of Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, who was let go by Ferrari before the season even started. He emphasizes the mental strength required for Martín to navigate this period of uncertainty, noting Martín’s resilience and competitiveness during preseason testing.
In conclusion, Haro believes that the championship title will likely be contested between Ducati’s official riders, Jorge Martín, and Marc Márquez, highlighting the high stakes and intense competition expected in the 2024 MotoGP season.