Ethan Tan’s Post

Eight reasons MotoGP will be even better in 2024 https://lnkd.in/eyiaskAW MotoGP 2023 had its flaws, but it grew into the championship’s greatest title fight in years as Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin’s battle ebbed and flowed through twist after twist in the final three months of the season. And it was equally good value off-track too, thanks to Marc Marquez and the machinations over his future. OK, I can hear the sceptical voices as I type. Some of the loudest probably come from my colleagues on The Race MotoGP Podcast, where I’m happy to be the Tigger to my fellow pundits’ Eeyores at times. Yes, there is the possibility that once back on a competitive bike Marc Marquez will reveal that everyone who's won titles during his compromised years was just an inferior pretender. Yes, Ducati may still be near-unbeatable. Yes, the season is punishingly long, especially with sprints added, and the injury rate last year was unacceptable and couldn’t be shrugged off as a coincidence. Yes, the tyre pressure rule situation risks causing farces. Yes, it’s a huge shame that ‘dirty air’ is invading even motorbike racing and aero has been allowed to get out of control. I get all that. MotoGP 2024 will be flawed, too. But here are eight reasons why it’s also going to be even better than a 2023 season that will still be remembered as a classic (...).

Sixteenth win of the season! Six of our bikes in the top 6 positions: another historic first to celebrate together. Another wonderful opportunity to thank all those who make up the great Ducati Corse family. An awesome Marc Marquez bags his third 2024 success to reaffirm, as if needed, that he is very much there, back at the top of MotoGP. And he does it in his inimitable way following an unbelievable comeback that took him immediately, and with disarming authority, close to the leaders and then on to the nail biting duel with Martin. A true masterpiece on a track most congenial to him. He went “wild”, as he does when he can scent victory, sparing himself nothing. Irrepressible. But the true measure of his strength, his specific weight, is all in his having immediately recovered from a very unlucky start, imposing himself over everything and everyone as the “winner-takes-all”. Even over a Martin who, truth be told, had undoubtedly more to lose than Marquez. Still, Jorge tried to prevail, with great merit but not at all costs; he got off to a good start and stayed there at the front until the last laps, not backing down when it was time to engage in a gripping fight with Marc, but giving due consideration, after having given everything, to the possibility of gaining points that were most important. Fast and with the right maturity, he thus moves up to +20 on Pecco. A Pecco who experienced a rather lacklustre weekend, always missing something on a track that is hostile to him: having never really found a feeling with either bike or track. Everything was also conditioned by Friday’s weather. Conditions that prevented him from carrying out tests that had been planned to optimise set-up on a track characterised by new tarmac, and to metabolise the automatisms he needs to best express himself. He raced defensively putting his all into it, fighting with the leaders as long as he could and then gradually losing ground, especially in the last part of the race. But it is precisely in these situations that the traits of a fighter come to the fore, of one who manages to limit the damage even when everything seems to conjure against him. He did very well, seizing an important podium: even though more could really not have been done today, he still wanted to have his say, he was there with the frontrunners ready to challenge for it. Special kudos to Diggia's great race, may it also bode well for what he has to face. An excellent performance, starting from the 12th grid position, he closed with a promising 4th place. In the leading group of contenders, fast and tenacious, with a better qualification, who can say... I remember him here last year with his first podium in premier class. Just enough time to muse on the race in Australia, and it’s already time to think of the Thai tarmac: another page to be written, anticipating a finale to be savoured. Come on, Ducati! #Ducati #DucatiLenovoTeam #ForzaDucati #MotoGP

In the high-speed world of MotoGP™, Alex Marquez shares his confidence in his brother Marc Marquez's ability to adapt to Ducati and his anticipation for the upcoming season. Alex begins with firm belief in Marc's capabilities: “I don’t have any doubts that [Marc Marquez] will achieve the level because he already showed it,” showing unwavering confidence in his brother's prowess on the track. However, he notes the challenges ahead, especially with Ducati's experienced riders: “Of course, he needs to take care at the beginning of the season because there are a lot of Ducati Motor Holding riders with more experience than him with this bike." This realistic take acknowledges the learning curve Marc faces with his new team. Alex advises a strategic approach: “He can be a bit stronger, see if he can score good points in the first few races and make a season stepping forward, then he’ll be in the fight." It's about building momentum and adapting as the season progresses. But Alex also tempers expectations: “But it’s too early at the moment to have any expectations.” This cautious optimism reflects the unpredictability of racing. Looking ahead to the pre-season, Alex says, “In the pre-season he will see what he needs to improve more, if he struggles or not, if the strong points he had on last year’s bike [Honda] are also useful in this bike [Ducati]…” This period will be crucial for Marc to adjust and find his edge. Alex concludes with respect and anticipation: “For sure, he’ll be fast and will put the rest of us in difficulties. Anyway, it will be great to see how far he is going with this new bike.” The Marquez brothers continue to shape the MotoGP landscape, and the upcoming season promises more thrilling moments on the track! 🏁🏍️💨 #AlexMarquez #MarcMarquez #MotoGP #Ducati #GresiniRacing #RacingBrothers #NewChallenges #MotorcycleRacing #Brothers #MM93 #AM73 #469Motorsports

Marquez's benchmarks: 5 seismic moves by MotoGP icons ranked https://lnkd.in/e7Xuz33W MotoGP's 'aliens' era is more or less over, but one of those aliens remains - and for 2024 he cooked up exactly the kind of move that the premier class had been a little starved of. A proven superstar pushing his chips in on a gamble that not only can alter the entire competitive landscape, but should do so, is always special. And when it comes to MotoGP, its modern era has been punctuated by those kinds of moves every half-decade or so. Marc Marquez swapping his Honda for a Gresini-run year-old Ducati is the latest example. For it to be the greatest, it has to surpass the five team switches below - a task ranging from a virtual given for the earlier entries to being almost mission impossible when it comes to the saga in the number one spot.

Acosta stars, crazy aero - What we learned from MotoGP shakedown https://lnkd.in/eANvTGz3 The first major track action of the 2024 MotoGP season has come a little earlier this year - thanks to new concession rules that allowed for the three-day Sepang shakedown to be attended not just by factory test riders and rookies, but the actual race teams of struggling manufacturers Honda and Yamaha. And while the Malaysian outing was largely closed off to the media and with riders mostly (more on that later) not speaking about their experiences until the main three-day test early next week, there was still plenty to notice from trackside - and from the timing screens. Without the full grid, it’s of course still hard to piece together too much of what the season will look like - but that doesn't mean that there weren't still some interesting things on show. We always knew that rookie sensation Pedro Acosta was going to get on pace in MotoGP, given his remarkable progression through the ranks of Moto2 and Moto3 over the course of only three seasons. Ending the final day of the test fastest overall, he was only a tenth of a second away from the qualifying time set by top KTM racer Brad Binder at October’s race. Among the most noticeable things on show was KTM’s continuing aero push - and the lengths to which it's gone in hiding its various developments. Designed with the full might of partner Red Bull's F1 aero team, it’s quite obvious that there’s been an injection of new thinking (...).

The hype is real – at least for motorsport fans!   The MotoGP Grand Prix in Le Mans, France attracted 297,471 spectators over the weekend – a new attendance record. This is remarkable if you consider the ongoing debate around motorsports and its fuel consumption in light of sustainability. I am in favour of motorsport events and the figures show that these events attract more and more fans around the world. From my point of view this is due to the entertainment and excitement that these events consistently deliver.   Would you have guessed that #93 Marc Marquez would be on the podium after being 13th on the grid in Sunday's race and only 0.446 seconds behind race winner Jorge Martin and in front of reigning world champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia!!   I guess everyone is wondering how this season will evolve and who will be on top – but equally – who will become second? Besides the sporting aspect my biggest questions are: - Who will ride in the Ducati team next year? - Which bike will Marc Marquez ride in 2025? - Is the success of Marc Marquez only related to the Ducati Bike or is it also because of the team? It seems that at Gresini Racing it is all about the team and that the rider are part of a family. Maybe that’s the differentiating factor? Questions are good but how about predictions. Here are my three predictions for MotoGP: - Jorge Martin will become World Champion 2024 and will ride alongside Franceso “Pecco” Bagnaia for the Ducati team - Marc Marquez will stay at Gresini Racing in 2025 but will be given the newest specification of the Ducati, essentially riding a factory bike. - Liberty Media will produce a 'Drive to Survive' style documentary about the 2025 season which will lead to a significant increase in event attendance and viewership numbers overall. What are your top three predictions for the MotoGP? Share your thoughts in the comments. #motogp #sportfive #sportsmarketing

Maverick Viñales takes a sensational win at the 2024 Portimao MotoGP™ Sprint, marking his first victory with Aprilia Official in a race filled with twists and turns! 🚀 Battling through sickness, Viñales seized the moment when the race leader, Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia, made a critical mistake, running wide at Turn 1 with just four laps to go. The drama didn’t stop there; as Jorge Martín Almoguera and Marc Márquez were hot on his tail, creating a nail-biting chase to the finish. Martin looked poised to challenge Viñales but a slip on the penultimate lap widened the gap, allowing Viñales to hold on to the win. In a thrilling last-lap maneuver, Marquez claimed the second spot on the podium, leaving Martin to complete the top three after a hard-fought battle. Meanwhile, Bagnaia managed to clinch fourth place, narrowly ahead of Jack Miller who had led the early laps of the race. A day of highs and lows saw pole sitter Enea Bastianini finish sixth, after a troubled start. With every turn, the race kept fans on the edge of their seats, showcasing the unpredictable and exhilarating nature of MotoGP. Pedro Acosta, Aleix Espargaró, Fabio Quartararo, and Raúl Fernández rounded out the top ten, in a race where strategy and skill were key. Cheers to Maverick Viñales for an unforgettable victory under challenging conditions - a true display of resilience and mastery on the track! Let’s celebrate this incredible win. 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 1. Maverick Viñales 2. Marc Marquez 3. Jorge Martin 4. Francesco Bagnaia 5. Jack Miller 6. Enea Bastianini 7. Pedro Acosta 8. Aleix Espargaro 9. Fabio Quartararo 10. Raul Fernandez 11. Marco Bezzecchi 12. Miguel Oliveira 13. Alex Marquez 14. Joan Mir 15. Augusto Fernandez 16. Franco Morbidelli 17. Takaaki Nakagami 18. Luca Marini - Johann Zarco (DNF) - Brad Binder (DNF) - Fabio Di Giannantonio (DNF) - Alex Rins (DNF) #MaverickViñales #Aprilia #Portimao #PortugueseGP #MotoGP #ApriliaPower #DucatiDominance #MarquezMagic #MotorcycleRacing #RaceDay #469Motorsports

A splendid Ducati podium with a “poker” of our aces. A stratospheric Pecco triumphs, for the third year in a row, on a track that is imbued with the history of motorcycling, as prestigious as it is demanding, and this on a perfect weekend, putting his hallmark on everything possible: free and timed practice runs, Pole position, Sprint Race, MotoGP and record of the track. Simply fantastic! A moment of extraordinary form, his third victory in succession, after Barcelona and Mugello, which equals Casey Stoner for number of wins with Ducati: 23! A race that he literally dominated with impressive lap times: after an impeccable start, with disarming superiority, he managed a safety margin that never left any doubt. The only one to attempt some opposition was, as usual, a tenacious and solid Martin who, with a display of great generosity, tried to keep up the pace, only having to settle, so to speak, for an important second place: he was able to limit the losses, optimising his fine performance with important points: bravo! Equally valuable were his sportsmanship and objectivity, expressed in post-race declarations as well, which I greatly appreciated. An excellent 3rd place for Enea thanks to a great comeback in the second half of the race, a trait that is now in his DNA. He recovered from tenth place on the grid with an incisive and unstoppable race pace that rewarded him with an excellent podium spot. He could not catch up with Martin, but his was a ride that took him to successfully challenge even Marc Marquez. And how can we not underline the performance of Di Giannantonio who, after a faltering start, recovered with great determination to challenge for third place with the other protagonists. Victories like these are pure joy, but there is more: a Pecco always focused on the race is our best way to overcome the happenings of the riders “market”, letting us concentrate solely on the races, especially the next GP leading into the summer break. One last important reflection accompanies this Grand Prix: to the entire Pramac team and to Paolo Campinoti goes my gratitude and appreciation, as strong and true as is our friendship, as well as for the mutual professional and human esteem marked by the many meaningful and important moments shared in an ambitious and challenging project that, also thanks to them, has become firstly reality and then history: a Ducati path that has seen us grow and evolve, and with us the bike, and the young talents who have ridden it. Of course it is a shame to lose such a precious reality, but the joy and the memory of the great work we did together will always prevail! Come on, Ducati! #Ducati #DucatiLenovoTeam #ForzaDucati #MotoGP

All the MotoGP liveries for British GP - and what they reference https://lnkd.in/eWVekhCq MotoGP teams have unveiled an array of 12 special liveries that will contest the series' throwback-themed British Grand Prix, celebrating the championship's 75-year anniversary. There are only 11 teams on the current MotoGP grid, but LCR runs split liveries due to one entry being backed by Castrol and another by Idemitsu - so has likewise prepared two different colour schemes for the Silverstone race. The key word there is 'race', singular, as - as is usually the practice in MotoGP versus other championships - bikes usually only run in special colour schemes on the final day of the race weekend, and this is again expected to be the case here. Here are the liveries in current championship order, and what the inspiration behind them is (...).

Dall'Igna: MotoGP concessions allow rivals to make mistakes Ducati can't make https://lnkd.in/e6_YxHSG On the 10th anniversary of his arrival at the Bolognese company, the engineer has been accumulating influence, in his team and in the championship, to the point of being seen by many as the Adrian Newey of the competition. After breaking most records last season, Ducati will face 2024 in full strength and with the extra asset of Marc Marquez, who has given up the last year of the million-dollar contract that linked him to Honda, to ride one of Dall'Igna's bikes. Luigi Dall'Igna spoke to Motorsport.com just a week before the start of the Ducati presentation events, which this year will compete for its third MotoGP title, the fourth in the history of the Borgo Panigale brand. Q. Many people compare you to Adrian Newey, the head of Red Bull's technical department in Formula 1, because of the influence you have in MotoGP. However, with your bikes it's not just one rider who wins, but many. Does that put you on a higher plane? LD: That's impossible. Newey is a legend. Just the fact that someone compares me to him is enough to satisfy me. But cars and motorbikes are two completely different universes. Q. Concessions can be a great help, as long as you are aware of what you have to change. Do you think Yamaha and Honda know that? LD: The big difference is that they have the possibility to make mistakes and fix them. For example, with the engine, which they can open and modify. We don't. Those who have the concessions can go back with the engine if they have a problem. We have to finish the championship with the engine we homologated at the start. That's why we have to be much more conservative. It's not just a question of testing, it's a question of being able to take a lot more risks. They, in terms of aerodynamics, have one more upgrade than us. If we get it wrong, we have a problem. Q. What factors made you stay at Ducati and not accept the challenge Honda offered you? LD: It has cost us a lot to get here. We didn't win the world championship from one year to the next. It would have been completely stupid to give up on a situation as positive on a technical level as the one that surrounds me now at Ducati. The team I have around me is wonderful, both from a technical and human point of view. At Ducati it's great. It's a place where you can talk, discuss. It's not easy to give up this sweet thing.