P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Marquez “can’t pretend” to think he can win on Ducati MotoGP bike straight away
Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez made his public debut with the Gresini team at its launch for the 2024 season. He had parted ways with Honda after a difficult 2023 campaign. Marquez had already tested the GP23 Ducati during the post-season Valencia test in November, where he finished fourth overall and only 0.171 seconds off the pace. While he adapted quickly to the new bike, Marquez downplayed expectations and emphasized the need to work calmly in the early stages of the season. He acknowledged the challenges of competing against teammates Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, who have extensive experience with the Ducati. This year’s winter was the first since 2017 that Marquez did not have to focus on recovery from injury, giving him the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season without rehabilitation.
