Repsol Honda, after losing Marc Marquez for the 2024 MotoGP season, will need to go elsewhere to find a replacement. Initially, it was believed that Johann Zarco, a new signing for satellite LCR Honda, would be fast-tracked into the factory squad. Even though Zarco had previously indicated interest in replacing Marquez as the team's rider after the latter's departure for Pramac Ducati, he has since confirmed that he intends to complete his LCR contract. For those who are unaware, Zarco has a direct contract with Honda, and he had already shown interest in joining the factory team before Marquez's departure in 2024 when he knew he would be able to help revitalise the team's difficult programme. To replace Marquez in the Repsol team, Honda has publicly announced its interest in current RNF Aprilia rider Miguel Oliveira.
Zarco, speaking before the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, admitted that he had formerly thought he would be Honda's top pick to replace Marquez. However, it now looks like Honda has a different opinion.
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MotoGP: What did Johann Zarco Say?
"It's confirmed, I'm staying with Lucio," said Johann Zarco. "Honda's proposal was not elaborate enough for the next two seasons. There is a possibility to do one year in the factory team and then come back with Cecchinello... but it's not clear enough. It's better to use all my energy on the LCR project for the two coming years and work the best way possible having Honda's full involvement within the Cecchinello team, like Ducati with Pramac. So there's no need to look for an official team, it would have been nice for the prestigious side, but ... it's not that there's no real offer, but they don't see the project for two years, so it's better to concentrate on Cecchinello."
Johann Zarco is well aware of the shifting landscape, so even if he doesn't get the big break he was hoping for with Honda, he'll be fine. After losing Marquez, Honda faces the enormous challenge of transforming the RC213V into a title-conquering machine, elevating the significance of Zarco's work in the company's research and development department. This role may now garner greater recognition and significance, particularly if Honda chooses to embrace his proposed approach, bolstering support for LCR in the process.
Miguel Oliveira, a frontrunner for the position, claims that Honda has yet to make him an offer despite the contractual roadblocks he faces from his current team, the RNF, and the Aprilia factory. The possible ambiguity of his relocation for the 2024 season is highlighted by this issue.
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MotoGP: Marc Marquez Reveals His 2024 Ducati Bike
Marc Marquez, the eight-time World Champion, has finally announced the motorcycle he will ride in 2024 as he prepares to make a major move to Gresini Racing for the following season. Marquez has announced that he will be using the latest GP23 model of the Ducati for the upcoming season. Both title contenders, Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Lenovo Team and Jorge Martin of the Prima Pramac Racing are now riding this specific motorcycle. All of these riders, as well as Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, moving to Pramac), will receive the updated 2024 model. Marquez's switch from Honda after 11 years has become more interesting by the fact that he will have to ride an older-spec Ducati in the 2024 season.
Although the GP23 is well regarded inside the MotoGP circuit, the possible repercussions of this move are still up in the air. For example, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) is in third place in the Championship, yet he is using a bike from the previous year, the GP22, that was manufactured by the Ducati factory. Bezzecchi and Marquez will share machinery in the following season, and because their contracts are up at the end of the year, it's likely that they'll keep an eye out for one of the coveted factory machines in the seasons to come.
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