FIRST LOOK: Marc Marquez on a Ducati, Luca Marini at Honda, Pedro Acosta in MotoGP
The eight-time world champꩵion was introduced to his 2024 MotoGP bike by his new team, Gresini, on Monday night.
On Tuesday,🐲 Marquez rode the Ducati for the first time at t𓂃he Valencia postseason test.
His switch from Honda to the Ita🏅lian manufacturer's satellite team is one of the biggest rider moves in MotoGP history.
He will team with his brother Alex Marquez, who made the same move a year ago, ne🐻xt year.
M꧟arquez has penned a one-year contract with Gresini and hopes his new machinery will b🍸e enough to allow him to challenge for the MotoGP title in 2024.
He is 🌞one championship behind Valentino Rossi's ꦚtally of seven.
Luca Marini
The brother of Valentino Rossi h🀅a🤪s finally confirmed his switch from VR46 to Repsol Honda, where he will replace Marquez, in 2024.
It will be a step ✃up for Marini from a satellite to a factory team, although he is sacrificing riding a Ducati fo♛r a below-par Honda.
But 𓆉Marini is feted for his analytical skills and could be the perfect rider to h𒁃elp Honda develop a winning machine.
Pedro Acosta
The Moto2 champion made his first appearance in Mo🧔toGP at Tuesday's test.
He will be r🔯iding for Tech3 GASGAS in the 2024 season after earning his call-up to the premier class.
Such is the prodigious talent of the teꦆenager, KTM were willing to relegate the experienced Pol Espargaro to a test and wildcard role.
Can Acosta justify the hype?
Alex Rins
Rins jumped on board his Yamaha for the 🥀first time on Tuesday. He is switching from LCR Honda.
Rins had an unusual season, becoming the only Honda rider aside from Marquez to win a grand prix s♈ince 2018 when he succeeded in Texas.
But a broken leg in Mugello ꦑthen ruined the rest of his year. He confirmed that he would leave Honda, having complained that his feedback to develop the bike was not being prioritised, during his injury absence.
Franco Morbidelli
Morbidelli spent the first months of 2🀅023 at risk of losing his MotoGP seat but, when news finally came through that Yamaha were axing him, it al🤪l worked out well.
That's because Morbidelli is jumping onto a༺ factory-spec Ducati at Pramac in 2024.
Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi were b🅠riefly in the running for the Pramac bike, which Jorge Martin almost won the 2023 title on. But Morbidelli got the nod.
Fabio di Giannantonio
Di Giannantonio will switch from Gresini to VR46.
His form has exploded since it was confirmed that he'd los𒁃e his 2024 spot to Marquez.
After protracted ta🌱lks, he has signed🔥 a deal to remain in the premier class.
Johann Zarco
Zarco has left Pramac Ducati to join LCR Honda.
How the veteran rider copes with leaving behind MotoGP's best bike to jump onto one of𒈔 its worst remains to be seen...
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports f🦹or a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
