The eig🙈ht-time world champion will leav✱e Honda at the end of the 2023 MotoGP campaign to join Gresini Ducati.

That means one of๊ the most coveted seats in MotoGP, or at least that’s traditionally been the case♑ given Honda’s success, is available.

• Marc Marque🎶z pinpoints the key attribute he wants from his 2024 Ducati 
• “I🌃’ve been told…” Jorge Lorenzo shares story about Pedro Acosta’s excellence

F🎉abio Di Giannantonio appeared to be the obvious choice given he is out of🐭 contract, however, Marini is now close to joining the Japanese manufacturer.

Asked about the Italian’s decision to leave Ducati, who have the best bike on the grid for Honda, Marquez told : “Obviously I don’t know Honda’s strategy exactly. I thought they would have bet on Di Giannanto🤡nio a couple of races ago, but already in Thailand I started to feel something about Marini and it seems he will take my place. 

“I’m happy for Luca. We have always had a good relationship and he is a young and expꦅerienced rider on the Ducati, which is the best bike on the grid for results. 

“I don’t know what the main reason is fꦉor why he would join Honda. I chose to have a competitive bike, while he goes towards 𒁏a project that requires a lot of work. 

“Sometimes things seem a certain way from the outside but are different from the inside, so it would be be♛tter to ask him.”

Acosta can be a multiple MotoGP champion - Marquez

Like Marquez during his early years in the championship, hotshot Pedro Acosta has huge expectations heading into hi𓆏s first season as a MotoGP rider in 2024.

Marquez, who was one of the first to recognise his stunning talent, expects the Spaniard ღto have his own ‘era’ of greatness. 

“After his first race in Moto3 I posted a tweet while I was injured on the sofa at home saying he was ꦫan excellent rider and is proving it,” began Marquez. 

“𓆏He is one of those riders who will become a big name in MotoGP. I don’t want to label him as ‘the anti-someone’ or something like th𒐪at because that’s something I’ve always hated. 

“Every rider has his era, his years and his moment. Now it seems like no one can win 🐈many championships in a row, but Acosta is someone who can do it.”