The eight-time world champion jumped aboard a Ducatℱi MotoGP bike for the first time in his career, and in the process gave little reason to think he can’t be a force withꦡ this year’s title-winning package.

Marquez, who left Honda after one of the most successful stints the sport has ever seen, ♉finished the Valencia test in 𓆉fourth.

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But it wasn’t just the final position that gave an indication of🐎 how strong he could be, but rather his level of confidence with the bike, which was only enhanced when he stepped off his machine and looked happier t🎀han we’ve seen him in many seasons. 

Grinning and raising his 🎉eyebrows after returning to pit lan🍒e, Marquez looked very pleased with the GP23 bike before getting stronger and stronger as the day went on.

Marquez put together several runs where he set very fast lap times, to the point where he challenged his fastest laps from﷽ the race weekend on the Honda. 

Ma⛄rquez has n🌠ot lost any of his talent, that’s clear, but the RC213V has stopped him from showing that on a consistent basis.

But that d൩oes not appear to be somet🍰hing he will struggle with doing at Ducati, especially after inheriting last season’s championship bike.

Fr🍒ancesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin contended for the title with that bike, which is one very strong reaso꧂n to suggest Marquez could be a title threat.

However, just as important is the fact Ducati 🧸prod💮uces a bike that can be competitive for more than just one season.

Alex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchꦯi and Fabio Di Giannantonio all won rꦍaces in 2023 whilst riding a year-old bike.

Those three riders are 🦹very, very good, but it won’t come as a surprise if I s🍎aid Marquez is a more complete and talented rider than those three mentioned.

His talent, which is unquestioned, and the Ducati bike which is unquestionably the best package on the grid at present, is enough 🌊to warrant putting Marquez in the same bracket as Bagnaia and Martin when we think of possible title contenders in 2024. 

Ducati are also very fair when it comes to its riders and letting them figꦅht for the title, even if it’s against a factory rider.

Sure, team orders can come into play, but that is unlikely to be the case if the non factory ride꧟r has a legit chance of🌳 claiming the championship.