Today MotoGP has finally seen answers to one of the most-talked-about team switches in the history of the sport. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has officially signed to ride with Gresini Racing MotoGP in 2024. Here's all the main talking points from what he had to say:
The dream partnership comes to an end
"It has been a super difficult decision, the toughest decision of my career because to break 11 years of relationship with Honda, a very successful relationship was super difficult. Yes, last week was hard on the emotional side because all my staff, friends and family are there inside that box."
A difficult decision
"Sometimes you need to leave your comfort zone. And yeah, my comfort zone was Honda but yeah, it’s true that it’s been a while and I’m suffering a lot."
The reasons behind the decision
"I’m not enjoying it so I made a change to enjoy my racing again because if I’m not there’s no point in continuing my racing and continuing my career, and what I want is more and more racing in my career. The first target will be to try to enjoy it. So for that reason, I chose the Gresini team because it’s a big family. They have the best bike on the grid and my brother is there so."
New challenges on the horizon
"It will be a big challenge for me and a big challenge for the Gresini team but they’ve already done very good results with Alex my brother and with Enea Bastianini in the past. But it’s what I say, it will be a big change in every aspect and what I’m looking for is to enjoy it, and to smile in the helmet. If I smile, everything will come."
Tough times
"When you’re injured and you’re in a difficult moment, you can’t make decisions. That’s what I learned in the past. There you have to be patient. But then in the second part of the season, of course, we’ve had some nice talks with Honda. Race by race it was super difficult because every weekend my mentality was changing a bit, with a lot of doubts. But at the same time, I had contact with the Gresini team and I told them I wouldn’t go forward with any contract, just if you want to wait for me, wait for me, but I can’t promise anything. My decision was last Tuesday after the Japan GP."
Onto pastures new
"The easiest way was to stay at Honda with the situation under control, the bike under control, my team there, and a big salary, so that was the easy solution. But then if I want to take care of myself and my career I need to find a new challenge and the new challenge and best place was the Gresini team in 2024."
Options on the table
"One year off was one of the possibilities. As I said, racing without enjoying has no meaning. I’ve enjoyed many things in the past, but I want to fight in the present. It doesn’t matter if you have one or eight World Championships, you have to fight for the present. This was my target. But yeah, I had different options. I won’t say because I respect all those teams and all those options."
The key moment
"On Wednesday I had the phone call with Japan, which we thought was the best option for the project because I believe that they need time, they need to put all the budget on the bike. A manufacturer or brand has a lot of time, but athletes, we don’t have a lot of time. If you lose a year, that’s one year less that you have in your career. So yeah, look, I’m looking forward to finishing these last few races well with Honda because it has been 11 years where we have we won six World Championships. We will discover how the future will be with a new team and the new bike."
The dream team continues?
"I am trying to bring at least one mechanic that I think won’t be a problem, but I can’t bring all the team for two reasons: One, I will not destroy the Repsol Honda Team because we’re in October. And reason two I won’t destroy the Gresini team because they are a family where they already have their mechanics."
An ever-changing situation
"The decision was not clear. It looked like the last two months I was playing with you, but honestly, every week the situation was changing. When I showed that video in Misano, I was 90% at Honda. Even at the Test, I was there, but then the situation changed... in the end last Tuesday I made the decision."