Marc Marquez’s debut with Ducati

Marc Marquez He has already made his media debut as a driver for Gresini Racing. Following a concession from Repsol Honda, the team with which he is officially contracted until the end of the year, Ducati was able to enjoy his first test on his GP23 without the Faenza team’s own trappings. I chose an interesting black machine. It is a combination of orange and red typical of MM93’s “merchandising”.

Marquez He had already been seen boxing in the Cheste paddock around 11am on Monday. Gresini Racing Ducati loaned Marc the GP23 ridden by Johann Zarco during this campaign and began taking initial measurements of the handlebar, saddle and footpegs to Marc’s liking. Over breakfast this Tuesday morning at Gresini Racing, Jorge Martin came over and performed a major helmet swap between the two winning drivers who will be driving for the same brand.

This Tuesday, he reappeared for 10 minutes around 10:20 a.m., then returned 20 minutes later to get into the Gresini Racing truck to put on his overalls.A new mechanic led by an Italian-British man Frankie CarcediJoan Mir’s technical chief when he became world champion with Suzuki in 2020, he has already started warming up in front of the box where expectations were at the height of his Repsol Honda debut in November 2012. There is.

The traditional Gresini Racing colors probably won’t appear on his bike until the official presentation next year in 2024. Yes, the Dream Team’s only mechanic, Javi Ortiz, in charge of tires and petrol, wore Gresini Blue.The only driver who can change colors and use the new livery is the two-time world champion Pedro Acosta It has already officially been given a new brand number “31”.

And after greeting each of the mechanics accompanying him on his Gresini Racing adventure and donning hand protectors, he sat for the first time on the right side of the box next to Frankie Carcedi. His younger brother Alex stands in the same realm as his older brother as a one-year boxing veteran.

And at 11:14 a.m., he got on his bike and Marc Márquez’s new sports stage began. At first glance, you can see that the Ducati is much longer compared to the Honda. His first lap was a 1:35.672 on a day when he didn’t feel like pushing because of the cold.

Already on his fifth lap he had clocked a time of 1 minute 30.683 seconds, placing him third behind his brother Alex (0.414 seconds) and Brad Binder, who had already made contact with each other and who was wearing a red helmet at T1. But he suddenly lost 1 second. The first round is his 8 laps and it’s already race time, so I warn the other boxes, especially the Ducati sailors. Then, back in the box, he took off his helmet and gave Carcedi a knowing gesture, a smile on his lips and a raised eyebrow. genius and figure.

“It was impressive. More than I expected,” Ducati Tardozzi exclaimed to DAZN to analyze Marc Marquez’s first run. They have closed the boxing shutters and are analyzing the first data.