Without any Ducati logo, both dressed in navy blue, like the lifelong brothers whom their parents put together, the Márquez made their first appearance in Madrid as teammates of the Gresini Team – courtesy of their sponsor Estrella Galicia 0.0-, ten days before the official presentation of the team in Italy.
After sharing a team at Repsol Honda in the catastrophic 2020 season, the two brothers are neighbors again, not only at home in La Finca de Pozuelo de Alarcón, but also in the garage, with changed trends: now Marc is the rookie and Àlex the one experienced with the Italian machine. Although with the same common factor: the 93 is once again considered a favorite, now on its new Italian mount.
The question was flying at the Phygital Hub in Madrid where the two brothers attended the media. “Can Marc Márquez be champion with the Ducati?” He was in a hurry to know his intentions and his feelings, now as a Ducati rider free to speak, after getting on the bike for the first time on November 28 in Cheste.
“2024 is presented with enthusiasm and great desire,” Marc opened the fire. “The situation in 2020 (at the Repsol Honda) is very different from now, I hope it is the opposite, since we were almost unable to share the track or box, because in the first race I was already injured [in Jerez]. In 2020 I thought about the title and now I only think about enjoying the bike again, if I enjoy it, results will come, while Àlex has already had experience and good results.”
The Cervera rider, who set the fourth best time on his debut with his new Gresini team motorcycle in the Valencia test, has begun to apply the handbrake to contain the euphoria.
“People's expectations are very high. One of my jobs is to escape from all this. It's just as difficult or more difficult [to be a champion now]. I come from a complicated situation these three years, so I can't create expectations before starting a preseason, and even less so when expectations are already very high. So keep a low profile and race by race, because this will allow me to work more calmly,” 93 takes off the pressure.
Marc, approached by the curiosity of whether a satellite motorcycle can be a champion, clings to prudence: “For me it would be a mistake to think about titles, and even more so about equaling anyone. It would be a big mistake because I have gone two years without a victory. I can't expect to start a new project thinking about that, there are hopes but you can't live with hope. The realistic goal is to have a winning bike, try things, and we'll see from there. "I can't face a season thinking about titles coming from where I come from, three years of practically competing half of the races on the calendar."
“I feel very good, I'm finally having a normal preseason without injuries, without pain. This meant that my level was not good. I'm doing a normal preseason, and knock on wood. I have work in Malaysia and Qatar to continue adapting to the bike and the technical team. When I get to the level I will start to change things to feel completely comfortable.”
Marc Márquez elaborated on the first test session he did with the Ducati in Cheste. “It was a good test, the first day after so much time with a riding style with the Honda he had a smile and butterflies in his stomach. It was a day of tranquility. I took a lot of notes to work on, such as the position on the bike, wanting to reach circuits where it is difficult for me, like Malaysia and Qatar.”
He prefers not to discover too many things about the Desmosedici, nor compare it with the Honda. “It's a different bike, I'm not going to get wet. You make time differently, you have to look for it in a different way. On circuits where it is difficult for me, I will see the positive points of the bike.” And he added: “We will see if the bike is ready to fight for victories. If a motorcycle is good, the rider adapts more easily. But the big difference between being fast or very fast is consistency. I don't know if I can be fast consistently, it's the difference that Pecco or Jorge Martín make compared to other drivers, who are fast on all the circuits."
Regarding the jump to Ducati after 11 years at Honda, Marc commented that it is a bet to progress in his life. “I have taken a step in my sports career to look for a solution, good news and good moments are not going to come just sitting around waiting, I have taken a step to continue feeling those butterflies in my stomach. "It's what moves me to continue with my sports career." Although, initially, it still seems strange to be called a “Ducati rider.” “It feels strange to hear it, as well as not seeing Santi Hernández when I arrive at the box, these are changes in life that I face with the maximum possible motivation and enthusiasm.”
Regarding his future beyond this 2024 academic year, 93 prefers not to start speculating. “I have always felt supported by the Gresini team, and that is why I took the step to go with them, they gave me time until I could clear my head. For 2025 I have nothing talked about with anyone, first I want to feel the enjoyment on the bike and then assess the best situation as long as I give gas on the track. The more gas on the track, the more doors open,” he noted, leaving the field open to any offer.
For his part, Àlex Márquez, in his second year with a Ducati from the Gresini team, with which he achieved a victory in Sprint last year, hopes that the new year will bring him better results.
"In my second calendar year at Gresini, the objective should be to continue the progression, go fast, we finished 2023 very well and that base will be important for the start of this season. It is too early to say what expectations I have, and it would be a little talk for the sake of talking, better to have a low profile and work, go race by race. If we are solid we can aspire to very good things," commented the youngest of Cervera's brothers.
"One of my goals could be to achieve victories on Sunday, we never give up, and if we continue with the same line and mentality without becoming obsessed, the first victory in MotoGP on Sunday will come. We came close to winning in Malaysia, but it escaped us. Now I have had the experience of fighting and having the rhythm for a first victory on Sunday," commented Àlex.
Regarding his brother's presence on the team, Àlex believes that it can be an incentive to grow. "Unity is strength, with Marc next year, if we work in the same direction and compete, he can help us and have a higher level of driving and speed. I hope to benefit from his arrival."
It was inevitable that Àlex would not talk about his brother Marc, about whether he saw him as a champion with the same bike: "You can expect everything from Marc, the magic has not been lost. I see him training flat track. Better or worse circuits will come, but "he will know how to suffer. I believe he is capable of anything."
