Marc Marquez, Rossi, Dettwiler: This is what you need to know for the new motorcycle season

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He is the new Swiss hope. Noah Dettwiler (18) enters his first full season as a regular World Championship rider in the Moto3 World Championship. The first Swiss at the Töff World Championship since the retirement of Tom Lüthi (37) and the first in the smallest class since Jason Dupasquier (†19) will have to eat tough bread. No motorcycle miracles can be expected from the newcomer from Hofstetten-Flüh SO, who lives in Valencia, Spain. World Cup points in the first year would be a highlight. Not only talents like Dupasquier remained scoreless in their debut season, current MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia (27) also met the same fate.

It was the motorcycle transfer of the decade. Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez (31) left his regular employer Honda after ten years and sensationally joined Ducati’s private team Gresini. The superstar is no longer a factory rider, but Marquez is now back on a winning bike and will be fighting for the podium again just like in his old heyday. Optimists even believe he can win the World Cup.

He lacks some charisma, but could easily become MotoGP world champion for the third time in a row at the end of 2024: Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (27). As a Ducati factory rider, the Italian is once again the man with the best prospects for the throne after the 2022 and 2023 titles. The challengers? The Ducati colleagues Enea Bastianini (26, It), Jorge Martin (26, Sp) and Marco Bezzecchi (25, It) – as well as the former top riders Marc Marquez and Franco Morbidelli (29), both of whom now also ride Ducati. An insider tip is South African Brad Binder (28) on a KTM.

Super talent Pedro Acosta (19) is considered the “new Marc Marquez”. The Spaniard won the Moto3 world title in the first year and the Moto2 crown in the second year. Now, as a MotoGP rookie, he rides a machine from manufacturer GasGas, which is technically identical to the fast KTM. Experts regularly expect him to compete in the points and he is the only newcomer this season in the demanding premier class.

The engine icon continues to accelerate; Rossi has been racing cars for two years. Now the Italian will participate in the World Endurance Championship with BMW in 2024. The big highlight: Rossi takes part in the legendary 24-hour race in Le Mans for the first time. However, the nine-time world champion remains very present in the motorcycle circus. His own VR46 racing team continues to compete in Moto2 and MotoGP. In the premier class, Rossi let his half-brother Luca Marini (26) strengthen the Honda factory team.

Source : Blick