Considered by many as a title contender in 2024, Marc Márquez began the MotoGP season with a fourth-place finish at the Qatar GP. The rider is now with Gresini and riding a Ducati, marking the first time in his career that he doesn’t have a Honda.
In an interview with MCN, Enea Bastianini, one of Ducati’s factory riders, discussed his expectations regarding the Spaniard: ‘Good. He pushes when it’s time, but keeping some margin, he’s trying to understand the bike. He is a very tough rival, he will definitely be in the game. I don’t know about the World Championship, but for the first three places, yes’.
Asked whether he expects himself, Francesco Bagnaia, and Jorge Martín to be the main protagonists in 2024, Bastianini replied: ‘Judging from the tests yes, but races are a different story. We must not underestimate KTM and Aprilia, who are our direct rivals today. I’m keeping my feet on the ground, not letting my head get too big. And anyway, if I have to look at the winter tests and first race, I would also add [Fabio] Di Giannantonio, Márquez, [Brad] Binder, and Aprilia…’.