Marc Márquez’s won the 2024 MotoGP Season: A Year of Transition and Triumph…

Marc Márquez’s won the 2024 MotoGP Season: A Year of Transition and Triumph…

Marc Márquez’s 2024 MotoGP season marked a significant shift in his career. After spending his entire MotoGP life with Honda, Márquez made a high-profile move to Gresini Racing, riding a Ducati Desmosedici GP23. While the transition was not without its challenges, the Spaniard ultimately finished third in the championship standings, securing multiple podiums and three victories along the way. In an interview with Crash.net, his crew chief, Frankie Carchedi, provided key insights into Márquez’s adaptation to his new environment, outlining the major hurdles he faced during the season.

The Early Struggles and Adjustments

One of the main challenges for Márquez in his first year with Ducati was adapting to the new bike and the altered weekend format. Carchedi explained that, during the early part of the season, Márquez’s performance in pre-season tests—particularly at Sepang and Qatar—was promising. However, when the team arrived for the European rounds, Márquez found himself struggling to extract the maximum potential from the Ducati during the race weekends.

“The problem was more when we went back for the European rounds,” Carchedi reflected. “You’ve got 20 laps, then you go into qualifying, and we weren’t ready.” Márquez, who is known for his aggressive riding style and ability to extract performance from any bike, faced an uphill battle in understanding the finer details of the Ducati machine, which required a different riding technique and strategy compared to his previous Honda.

The Ducati Challenge

One of the biggest hurdles for Márquez was adjusting to Ducati’s unique setup and handling characteristics. According to Carchedi, “There is also a technique to doing one [flying] lap on the Ducati to get the best out of it.” In his first half of the season, Márquez struggled to make consistent appearances in Q2 during qualifying sessions. As a result, much of his race weekends were spent recovering from poor grid positions.

“In the first half of the year, we didn’t make many Q2s directly,” Carchedi noted. “So then the whole weekend was all about comebacks. It’s just how it is. It’s very difficult for someone in their first year [riding a new bike] to just go ‘bang’ straight away.” This struggle to consistently qualify within the top 12 meant Márquez had to fight hard during the races, often starting from further down the grid and working his way up to secure points and podiums.

The Turning Point

Despite the early difficulties, the second half of the season saw a marked improvement. By mid-year, Márquez and the Gresini team had refined their understanding of the Ducati, and his qualifying performances began to improve. “By the second half of the season, we made Q2 quite easily in general,” Carchedi observed. “And then the strategy changes because you can work on your race pace and everything else for longer.” This adjustment allowed Márquez to focus more on race simulations and long-run pace, which ultimately paid off in terms of race results.

Carchedi emphasized that the biggest change throughout the season was the improvement in Márquez’s qualifying performances, which allowed him to focus on race strategy without the constant need to recover positions. With better grid positions, Márquez could race more effectively and capitalize on the Ducati’s strengths, leading to more podium finishes and victories.

A Year of Growth

Looking back on 2024, it’s clear that while Márquez faced a steep learning curve with Ducati, his adaptability and experience allowed him to end the season on a high note. Finishing third in the championship was a testament to his determination and resilience, and the lessons learned throughout the year will no doubt make him a stronger contender in 2025.

For Carchedi, the most significant change in Márquez’s performance was his ability to unlock the Ducati’s potential and the improvement in his qualifying form. As the team heads into the off-season, they will continue to fine-tune their approach to maximize the bike’s capabilities and enhance Márquez’s race-winning potential in the future.

In conclusion, 2024 was a year of transition for Marc Márquez, but it was also a year of growth and achievement. Despite the challenges, he has proven that he remains one of the most capable and adaptable riders in MotoGP, ready to fight for the title again in the years to come.