The season finale was a showdown to remember after an incredible season, but there’s only one day off to celebrate, commiserate and get recharged for a first taste of next year, because 2024 starts now!
The biggest headline is inarguably Marc Marquez’ switch from Repsol Honda to Gresini Racing MotoGP™, and he will be squarely in the spotlight as he heads out on the Ducati. And as he lines up alongside his brother Alex Marquez at the team. Will he be fast? Will he let anyone see that if he is? Or will the cards be kept close to his chest?
The Ducati benchmark Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), given he is the reigning Champion once more, will have an eye on that and another on starting his title defense. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) will be gearing up to fight at the front in 2024 too… but there could be some jostling for position on the timesheets amongst the Ducati runners if Marc Marquez is quick from the off.
We’ll also see Franco Morbidelli on the other side of the Prima Pramac box… and we don’t yet know who will be alongside Bezzecchi. That will surely be confirmed ahead of the test, adding just another exciting piece of the puzzle to be excited about.
At KTM, Brad Binder and Jack Miller will be out with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Rookie of the Year Augusto Fernandez will have 2024 spec as he starts his sophomore season. And on the other side of the box, another big dash of hype on the heels of the Marquez-Ducati mash up: Pedro Acosta, the reigning Moto2™ World Champion, will make his MotoGP™ debut.
Meanwhile, we know Luca Marini is leaving Mooney VR46 so the numbers game – and the rumours – say it’s surely Repsol Honda for the Italian, who would partner Joan Mir. But that's another headline to look for even before more can be made on Tuesday, with confirmation still pending.
Meanwhile, Johann Zarco goes from Prima Pramac, and fresh from the podium, to partner Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda, which will be interesting. And so will Alex Rins, who heads from the Independent Honda quad to join 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™… and now becomes rider number three looking to make history by winning with three different machines in the MotoGP™ era. Already having switched once and won, Rins will be interesting.
The Aprilia factory have Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales looking to take another step, and with Miguel Oliveira sidelined it’s Raul Fernandez, fresh from a top five, completing the Noale permanent rider ranks. Lorenzo Savadori, and his information from his replacement ride in Valencia, will be an ally too.
And will we see Qatar GP winner Fabio Di Giannantonio on the timesheets? He said he’s brought his leathers!
Tune in on motogp.com as a truly seismic day for MotoGP™ gets underway, starting to lay the groundwork for what promises to be an even bigger season than ever. It’s live and we’ve got commentary, timing, and plenty of pitlane updates, so join us on Tuesday as even more history is made!