MotoGP, Marquez and Quartararo: looking ahead to 2024

There are those like Pecco Bagnaia who are enjoying the moment, fortified thanks to six wins in twelve races, and those who are forced to look ahead, to the future, if they want to find a little hope and serenity. We’re talking about riders who were world title holders prior to Bagnaia, or rather Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo, both dealing with situations that are different and yet similar, in that neither is able to achieve the desired results.

Marc is trying, Honda is not collaborating

Starting with the Spaniard in the Honda camp, where the bomb has most definitely gone off. His comments on Sunday – “We Honda riders have to risk too much to do better than tenth” – combined with the injuries of a confused Joan Mir and an unlucky Alex Rins have once again confirmed the extent of the current crisis, one that a Kalex frame alone cannot resolve.

A situation that Marc has always highlightedm while simultanously trying to solidify his work group so that they can do their very best as a team. Behaviour that goes against his on-track personality, where he seeks victory even when this is physically impossible, the results disappointing as we’ve seen in recent weeks, with Marc unable to reach the finish line.

And so it seems that Marc is gradually losing faith in a Honda comeback, statement by statement, to the point that his “Honda will always be my plan A”, a comment made on Thursday at Mugello, already seems to have lost a good part of its expressive power. Marc appears to be looking to 2024 already, both because “the changes needed can only come from one season to another” and because it will be the year in which he can really look around with a view to his future.

“It’s not true that we’re not interested in Marc Marquez” commented KTM CEO Pit Beirer when interviewed by Marca, further proof that the Spaniard’s future may lie far from Honda, but perhaps still with an orange flavour.

Parting ways with his manager and more: Quartararo is looking around

The potentially explosive 2024 market could see the aforementioned Quartararo playing a starring role, the rider currently suffering even more than Marquez, if possible. Aside from one lucky Austin podium, the Frenchman has been unable to show any creative flair this season, having scored points in both races only in Argentina.

A frustrating position to be in, and one that the Frenchman handled first with rage, and then with a zen-like calm, perhaps the result of chronic resignation. After all, “when you can’t use any of what you try in testing in the races, it’s difficult”. And yet Fabio’s calm exterior is just that, the rider already making moves in preparation for 2024.

This is the only explanation for the dismissal of manager Eric Mahé, who has probably taken the fall for the latest renewal with Yamaha, when the M1 was already looking worn out and with little potential for growth. Quartararo’s head is full of thoughts, his only aim being to return to the top and his desire for change of air as of 2025 appearing to grow day after day. The countdown to 2024 appears to have already begun for these two greats, both of whom seek a fresh start and a comeback.