Alex Marquez: “We’ll keep growing and surprising”, Gresini stays with Ducati

The agreement ends any speculation that the Italian team could run satellite bikes for the likes of Yamaha or KTM, both currently seeking more grid places, in the near future.

“I would like to thank the whole Ducati family as we’ll continue with them for the next two years; we already showed we are a good combination this year as well as in 2022… so the goal is to continue to excite and be excited,” said team owner Nadia Padovani.

“We are delighted to continue to have the Gresini Racing MotoGP team in the Ducati family for two more seasons,” added Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall’Igna. “They are an extremely professional outfit and, over the years, have shown that they have the potential to aspire to great results.

“Last year they scored four beautiful victories with our Desmosedici GP machine, and this season they clinched a podium, a pole position, and a win in the last GP Sprint with Alex Marquez. We are sure that together we will achieve more success in the future and continue to grow race by race.”

Marquez’s contract extension was seen as a question of when not if.

The Spaniard swiftly put two dark seasons at LCR Honda behind him with a pole and podium in only his second event for Gresini. The former Moto2 world champion then celebrated his first MotoGP ‘win’ in Saturday’s wet Silverstone Sprint and was in contention for a dry Sunday podium until an early technical problem.

Other accidents and incidents have ruled Marquez out of three other grands prix this season, leaving him ninth in the standings, but he has proven an effective replacement for Gresini’s four-time race winner Enea Bastianini.

“I’m very happy to continue with the team,” Marquez said. “I’ve always expressed this desire of mine and when things go the right way it’s even easier to understand each other.

“To continue together for the next season is key in order to keep growing with this bike, and with this team everything is going to be easier. I would like to thank Nadia first and foremost, and then the whole team who made me feel at home from day one. We’ll keep growing and surprising.”

“Alex is first of all a wonderful person and it was a pleasure to welcome him in our Gresini Family,” said Nadia Padovani. “The results speak for themselves and it was a logical step for us to continue together and raise the bar some more.

“He already scored a race win and a pole position in his debut year with Ducati, showing he could battle with the best from the get-go. We will now try to find some continuity together in the next season."

The identity of the second 2024 Gresini rider is less clear. 

Fabio di Giannantonio, 16th in the standings, currently rides alongside Alex Marquez but the likes of Franco Morbidelli, Johann Zarco, Augusto Fernandez, Tony Arbolino and Jake Dixon have all been linked to the seat for next season.

Much will depend on whether Marco Bezzecchi decides to remain at VR46 or switch to Pramac.

Gresini, like VR46, uses year-old Ducati machinery while Pramac runs the latest bikes.

VR46's current Ducati deal expires at the end of next season, meaning a Yamaha switch would be theoretical possible for 2025.