(Reuters) – Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia is entering the 2024 MotoGP season as the clear favorite to win the championship for the third consecutive time, a feat not achieved since Marc Marquez. Bagnaia won the 2022 title after overturning a 91-point deficit, ending Ducati’s 15-year drought. Last year, Jorge Martin from Pramac Racing gave him a tough challenge until the final race weekend.
During pre-season testing in Qatar, Ducati showcased their GP 24 bike, which topped the charts. Bagnaia broke the lap record set by his teammate Enea Bastianini, establishing the GP 24 as the bike to beat. Bagnaia expressed confidence in their preparation for the upcoming season opener.
Six-time MotoGP champion Marquez made a significant switch to Gresini Racing after parting ways with Honda, a decision influenced by Ducati’s dominance in recent seasons. Marquez’s career took a hit after a 2020 season-opening injury, leading to multiple surgeries and a series of crashes on Honda’s bike.
Marquez’s move to Ducati’s satellite team offers him a fresh start, allowing him to adapt his riding style to the Desmosedici GP23 bike. His performance in pre-season testing in Qatar showed promise, hinting at his potential competitiveness in the upcoming season.
Spanish rookie Pedro Acosta, a two-time Moto3 and Moto2 champion, is set to debut in the premier class at just 19 years old. Acosta’s fearless approach and impressive track record have drawn comparisons to a young Marquez, with the veteran acknowledging Acosta’s talent and predicting future championship contention.
As many riders’ contracts expire at the end of 2024, this season presents a critical opportunity for riders to showcase their skills and secure future opportunities in MotoGP. The competition is expected to be fierce, with talented newcomers like Acosta challenging established riders for top positions.
As the season opener draws closer in Qatar, the anticipation for thrilling races and intense battles on the track is building up. Fans and experts alike are eager to see how the established champions like Bagnaia and Marquez fare against emerging talents like Acosta, setting the stage for an action-packed MotoGP season.
With Ducati’s continued dominance and Marquez’s resurgence on a new bike, the championship race is shaping up to be highly competitive. The upcoming season promises excitement, unpredictability, and potential surprises as the world’s best motorcycle riders vie for glory on the global stage.
Stay tuned as the 2024 MotoGP season kicks off with the Qatar Grand Prix, setting the tone for what is expected to be an exhilarating series of races across iconic tracks around the world.
Who will emerge victorious in this high-speed battle of skills and strategy? Only time will tell as the drama unfolds on the race track and the quest for MotoGP glory reaches its peak.
For all the latest updates, results, and analysis from the MotoGP circuit, keep following our coverage to stay informed about the thrilling world of motorcycle racing at its best.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
