Written by Owen Bradley, Finn Glover, Dan Jones, Reef Parker, Edited by Ineke Lavers
The 2024 MotoGP Season is right around the corner, and we are in for an absolutely remarkable year of Motorcycle Racing! The stories this year are thrilling: Marc Marquez on a Ducati, the entire Ducati fleet on the brink of a civil war between Team VR46, Gresini Ducati, Pramac Ducati and of course, Factory Ducati.
You could just about see any of the eight Ducati riders taking the 2024 Championship, or could we be in for a surprise with the likes of KTM?
Ahead of the 2024 MotoGP season, our writers have attempted to predict the 2024 MotoGP World Champion:
Simply the Bez! - Marco Bezzecchi to win 2024 MotoGP Championship - Owen Bradley
2023’s surprise of the season, Marco Bezzecchi, has had an absolutely remarkable couple of seasons in the premier class. With many calling Bezzecchi “The next Valentino Rossi”, it is easy to see why.
Taking four victories in 2023, which was just his second year in the Premier class, Bezzecchi became incredibly consistent in the battle against Factory Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, and Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin.
Unfortunately, due to injuries and Bezzecchi only being in his second season, a full on title charge was not possible until the very end. However, Bezzecchi made a real name for himself as the future face of MotoGP, and as a young rider who will undoubtedly win the MotoGP championship in the near future.
Personally, I believe that the future is now. I predict that Bezzecchi will become a MotoGP champion in arguably the most difficult season of all time. Whilst Bagnaia, Martin and the Marquez brothers battle one another, Bezzecchi could be the dark horse of the season and make an attempt to fly under the radar, taking points and victories away from the other favourites.
The Beast will roar- Bastianini to blitz in 2024 - Finn Glover
Despite a campaign blighted by injuries in 2023, Enea Bastianini has shown his talent and class on multiple occasions in MotoGP. With (hopefully) his first full season with the Ducati Factory bike ahead of him, surely his chances are better than ever this season.
In his three seasons in the premier class, Bastianini has consistently over performed and often exceeded many expectations.
Two podiums with Esponsorama and a stunning 2022 season with Gresini in which he collected four wins, it looked like Bastianini versus Bagnaia would be the battle of the century in 2023. Unfortunately, it all came tumbling down due to a series of injuries for the Italian.
Yet still, he claimed a stunning Sepang victory in searing heat, truly underlining his speed, talent and class. If only he could have experienced the whole season, who knows how many more performances like this he would have had?
After pre-season testing in Sepang and Lusail, Ducati domination may seem somewhat clear. However, with Bastianini a mere 0.1 seconds behind the title-favourite Bagnaia, it looks like it will be very close. Personally, I believe Bastianini could be a serious contender if he remains fit.
No rider gets a Ducati Factory seat unless they truly deserve it. And there’s no doubt Bastianini has this, even if he hasn’t quite shown it yet. And with the Martin to Factory Ducati move lurking ominously on the horizon, the hunger will be greater than ever in the beast’s belly to show why he should stay with the team going into the future.
A legacy to define - Marquez to prove he’s the very best once again - Dan Jones
Marc Marquez’s move to Gresini Ducati is the story of the 2024 season. It’s the most significant news for years in the series, and it will surely provide us with a title fight for the ages in 2024. However the last four years look on Marc Marquez’s resume, he’s undoubtedly one of the greatest riders that this sport has ever seen, and a 2024 title would be a legacy-defining moment.
He’s not going to have it easy, competing against the likes of Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin in the updated, stronger Ducati machinery, but we’re talking about one of the greats here. What’s Marquez got to lose in 2024?
He’s more than established his legacy in MotoGP, he’s not the favourite, he’s not in the top machinery, he has the option to take these risks – can the likes of Bagnaia, Bezzecchi and Martin afford to pull out such a level of bravery with the majority of their careers still ahead of them?
It might be a fantasy, it might be outlandish, it might be far-fetched, but the story of Marc Marquez risking it all to line-up at Gresini Ducati in the dream of a seventh premier class title would be one told for a very, very long time to come.
A thrilling three-peat - Bagnaia to defend his crown in style - Reef Parker
Some would say this prediction is the easy way out… but I believe the best is yet to come for Pecco Bagnaia.
A two time premier class champion, Bagnaia is the odds-on favourite to carry on his winning form into the 2024 season. However, I think it’s safe to say no one really knows who’s going to win this year.
Billed to be the best title race in years, the whole Ducati crew will be in with a shot of race wins and will ultimately cost each other at various points in the season, that’s not even mentioning outside bets such as Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia and Brad Binder on the KTM who I’m sure will be sneaking podiums on occasion.
Nevertheless, I believe this will just push Bagnaia to a higher level. At times he’s looked shakable, but after two successful campaigns back to back, Ducati’s man is ready to blossom.
The natural pace. The consistency. The experience. Pecco Bagnaia: Champion of the World once again.