LOSAIL – This year in
2024,
MotoGP celebrates its 75th anniversary of the World Championships since it all began in 1949. Throughout 75 years of
Grand Prix motorcycle racing history, many big names earned success such as Giacomo Agostini, Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, and most recently Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia. Last season, Bagnaia successfully defended the title and became the first ever Italian to win back-to-back premier class titles since his master Rossi did in 2008 and 2009; and the first Ducati factory rider ever to win consecutive titles.
This year in 2024, the riders and teams and constructors are ready to fight for the title. So are they ready? Here are the team and rider line-ups of 2024 FIM MotoGP World Championship as it shaped.
A. Factory teams
Last season was a roller-coaster year for Ducati: Pecco Bagnaia fought for his title defense, while his new teammate Enea Bastianini faced with several injuries in his rookie season for the factory team. But the team became irreplaceable with Bagnaia won seven races while Bastianini only won once at Malaysian GP. This year, the Bologna-based factory team continues their rock-solid form with the new Desmosedici GP24 that boasts more than 300 hp and can reach the top speed up to 360 km/h in the long straights.
For the first time since 2003 season, Yamaha suffered a winless season in 2023, with Fabio Quartararo only managed to score three podiums. Lin Jarvis and Massimo Meregalli, the team's chief directors, wants Yamaha to keep their title fight with the proper specifications that allow the Iwata-based Japanese manufacturer able to fight for the race win and for the title. Quartararo will partner with his new teammate Alex Rins.
2024 will see Repsol Honda back with its traditional black and orange livery following Marc Marquez's exit from the team. Throughout the Marquez's era of six MotoGP world titles, the team used the orange and white livery. This time, the team returned with the classic black and orange livery, which brought from their 1990s colors (during Mick Doohan and Alex Criville's era). The team's goals, according to team principal Alberto Puig, is to make Repsol Honda more competitive with the new line-up in 2024: Joan Mir and Luca Marini. Both Mir and Marini have both competed in FIM CEV Repsol (now known as FIM JuniorGP) riding for Honda in different teams.
Aprilia were having a good 2023 season with two wins from Aleix Espargaro and three other podiums for the team each from Espargaro and Viñales. This year in 2024, there will be more title challenge for the Noale-based factory team, as they fight for the title.
After having a turbulent 2023 season, with no wins and six podiums, KTM is 'ready to race' for victory and title fight. The RC16 is fully upgraded for 2024 season and will become one of Ducati's dark horses.
B. Independent/satelite teams
2023 saw the team took into title fight with Jorge Martin scoring nine sprint wins and four main race wins. The Martinator became a sudden championship rival to Pecco Bagnaia, however, the Spaniard failed to defeat the Italian after crashing out on lap 5 in the title deciding race at Valencia. Now the team revived into a fully purple livery for 2024, and will continue their title fight, as they supply new GP24 bike for Martin (GP23 for his new teammate Franco Morbidelli).
The hottest independent/satelite team to watch in 2024 must be a Gresini Racing, because the team consisted of the legendary two world champion brothers Marc and Alex Marquez. Nadia Gresini-Padovani, the team's boss wants Gresini back into the title fight after they had previously fight for the title during their Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri and Alvaro Bautista eras.
Another new prospect for the 2024 title challenge, the VR46 team signed their sponsorship with Indonesian national oil and gas company PT Pertamina Persero as their technical partner for the team.
The Lucio-Cecchinello Racing Team have been winless since Cal Crutchlow's retirement from the sport. For the 2024 season, the team will hire Johann Zarco for Castrol-sponsorship bike; while retaining Taka Nakagami in the Idemitsu-livery bike.
The French-based team led by Herve Poncharal will use the KTM RC16 bike similar to the factory team, with Augusto Fernandez and young rookie Pedro Acosta lining-up for the team.
TrackHouse Racing team might have been familiar in NASCAR racing, but the team went to expand into MotoGP in 2024. TrackHouse Aprilia will be led by Davide Brivio, with Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez lined up for the team.
So, who will win the 2024 MotoGP world title? Find out on
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