Marc Márquez believes that even if he had been riding the top Ducati GP24 bike in 2024, he still would not have won the MotoGP championship. Despite facing a disadvantage with the older GP23 bike, Márquez demonstrated impressive speed and determination throughout the season, securing three victories and 10 podium finishes, ultimately finishing third in the standings. The Spaniard’s performance, despite using a year-old bike, has raised questions about what could have been if he had access to the same machinery as the frontrunners.
The Disadvantage of the Outdated Bike
Márquez, who transitioned to the Gresini Racing team at the start of 2024, was forced to compete with the GP23, a machine that was one season behind the latest Ducati models. His move to Gresini meant he couldn’t compete on the GP24, the cutting-edge bike ridden by Jorge Martín and Francesco Bagnaia, both of whom dominated the season. Despite this, Márquez proved himself to be incredibly competitive, even managing to secure podiums against these faster machines.
While his younger brother, Álex Márquez, also rode the GP23, finishing eighth in the standings, many believe that with the same machinery as the top Ducati riders, Marc could have potentially added a seventh world title to his resume. However, despite his impressive results, Márquez is not convinced that he could have won the title, citing a more significant issue that goes beyond the bike itself.
Why Márquez Didn’t Believe He Could Win the Title
Márquez, who has experienced four difficult years at Honda, admitted that even with the Ducati GP24, he wouldn’t have been in a position to challenge Jorge Martín and Francesco Bagnaia for the championship. When asked if he would have won the title on a Ducati, he responded, “I won’t say yes, because both Jorge and Pecco had an incredible year. I couldn’t win because I wasn’t at my best to fight for the title.”
This statement underscores the challenges he faced, not only with the equipment but with his own physical and mental state. Márquez acknowledges that while he could have gotten closer to the points by the end of the season, winning the title was never a realistic expectation for him. “Maybe I could have been closer at the end of the year, but I wouldn’t have won,” he added.
A Fresh Start and New Challenges
Marc Márquez made the bold decision to leave his long-term partnership with Honda at the end of 2023, joining Gresini Racing and riding a bike with a completely different philosophy. This switch was complicated by the physical challenges Márquez has faced, including arm injuries sustained during the Jerez crash in 2020, which led to four surgeries in subsequent years. His transition to a new team and a new machine required a significant adaptation after 11 years of riding the Honda RC213V.
Despite these obstacles, Márquez still felt satisfaction in his achievements during the 2024 season. “In terms of physical feeling, testing the bike after 10 years with Honda was the biggest motivation I had this season,” he said. His victory at Aragon GP in September was a highlight, a moment of redemption after feeling close to winning at Jerez earlier in the year. “Everything I’ve done this year, I’ve done it. The rest is a gift,” he reflected.
Looking Ahead to 2025 with Ducati GP25
Looking ahead, Márquez will be one of the few riders to compete with the Ducati GP25 next season, joining the likes of Bagnaia at the Italian manufacturer. As he prepares for a new chapter with Ducati, Márquez has expressed his ambition to be back at the top. However, the process of rebuilding after four challenging years at Honda will take time. “I can’t go from four years in hell to glory at once,” he concluded, acknowledging the long road ahead but remaining optimistic about his future with Ducati.
