Written by Vyas Ponnuri
A massive shake-up for the next two seasons sees six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez take up the prestigious Ducati works seat alongside reigning champion Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia, forging a formidable alliance to go down as one of the most awaited in MotoGP history
Marquez is already on a strong run in 2024, having found a stellar run of form aboard the Gresini Ducati bike. In stark contrast to his 2023 MotoGP season for Repsol Honda, he sits third in the standings, battling for the championship with the protagonists Bagnaia and championship leader Jorge Martin, aboard the Pramac Racing Ducati bike.
In contrast this season, the Spaniard had failed to finish a single race, until the tenth round of the season at the Red Bull Ring, finishing 12th on the road. The Spaniard was forced to miss three rounds in the early stage of the season, after a crash with Miguel Oliveira in the opening round of the season at Portimao.
The eight-time champion struggled to find his best form aboard a Repsol Honda bike that proved difficult to handle all season, suffering multiple crashes as he tried to get the most out the machine at his disposal. His best result all season would be on a wet track at Motegi, as Marquez finished third on the day, in a shortened main race.
Two sprint podiums at India and Portimao earlier in the season added to his tally of 96 points, definitely not the return the eight-time champion was expecting. With growing disappointment over Honda's trajectory, Marquez penned a fresh deal with the Gresini Racing outfit for 2024, and seeing the pace Ducati have at the moment, you'd have been bold to count Marquez out so easily.
Fast forward till now, and Marquez has found a stellar run of form aboard his new ride, easily surpassing his tally from 2023, only a third of the way through the 2024 season. Five second places in three sprints this year are only a glimpse of the potential he possesses.
Marquez has netted podiums at both home races, marked by impressive comeback rides from 14th on the grid to the podium in the sprint as well as the main race at Barcelona.
Ducati would have faced a toss-up between Marquez and championship-leader Martin to take the seat on the works team alongside double world champion Bagnaia. However, Martin moving to Aprilia to replace the retiring Aleix Espargaro at the end of the year made their decision easier, and Marquez's impressive trajectory has helped him get one of the most prestigious seats on the grid.
The team dynamic at Ducati will be one to watch out for in the next two seasons, as one of MotoGP's most decorated names joins a rider touted as one of the fastest in the sport today, his relentless speed and consistency fetching two world championships for the team.
Marquez would also have a strong chance of winning an elusive seventh MotoGP championship too, putting him level with the most coveted racer in the history of the series, 'the Doctor' Valentino Rossi. He would also fancy his chances at surpassing Rossi's win tally of 89, going by the current form Ducati are in at the moment, and Marquez's motivation expected to be sky high aboard the Ducati.
Marquez expressed his happiness to be donning red for the next two seasons, saying:
"I am very happy to be able to wear the red colours of the factory Ducati team in MotoGP next season. Basically, from the first contact with the Desmosedici GP, I enjoyed riding it and adapted well straight away.
"From that moment on, I knew that my goal was to continue this path, to continue to grow, and to move to the team where Francesco Bagnaia has been the World Champion for two years in a row. I am happy to be able to take this big step in 2025 and grateful for the trust Ducati has placed in me."
Luigi Dall'Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, thanked Martin and current rider Enea Bastianini for their services, before giving a lowdown on the team's decision to select Marquez:
“First of all, I want to thank both Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martín for all their work with us over the last few years, and I wish them all the best for the future. This season, they have shown they have reached an incredible level, and we are sure they will be in the Title fight until the end.
"Deciding on Bagnaia's new teammate in the Ducati Lenovo Team was not easy, as we had a list of very strong riders to choose from.
“In the end, our choice fell on an unquestionable talent like Marc Marquez. In just a few races, he has managed to adapt perfectly to our Desmosedici GP, and his innate ambition pushes him to grow continuously.
"In the box, we will have two riders who together hold 11 World Titles, and being able to count on their experience and maturity will be invaluable for our growth as well.”
With many eager to see how one of MotoGP's most decorated riders performs aboard one of the quickest bikes in the series, against the form rider in the series, it's set to be a battle you absolutely wouldn't want to miss.