Marc Márquez decided to leave the comfort of Repsol Honda to be with Gresini in MotoGP in 2024, riding a Ducati. After the decline in performance of the Japanese constructor, the rider wants something that is above money or comfort: to check and prove that he is still capable of fighting for the top positions.
The Spaniard said in a Gresini press conference that he maintains the same ambitions, but admitted that fighting for the title is a bar that he does not risk setting at this time: ‘Of course, it was a super difficult decision and for that reason it took time. I made it after the Motegi GP. But, on the other hand, the ambition is the same as in 2013. I’ve said it several times and I’ll repeat it: if I’m here, it’s because I feel that I have the chance and the level to fight for those top five positions. I can’t say fight for the championship, because for that you need an extra in several aspects. But I still feel that I can fight for those top five/six positions‘.
Regarding the reason for choosing Gresini – and not ruling out a future return to Honda – Márquez commented: ‘I chose this direction to have a longer career. That’s it. The easiest path would have been to stay at Honda: less pressure for me, more money in my bank account, and several different things. But that’s not the goal. I’m very grateful to Honda, I said it at Honda’s Thanks Day and I say it again here: maybe in the future we can cross paths again. But it’s not just my decision, I also need to be fast on the tracks, to have more options to choose from. If I’m fast on the track, then I’ll be better positioned to choose my future‘.
