New challengers or old,
aerodynamics development has
become MotoGP's new techni-
cal war, with three of the five
manufacturers debuting new
and radical designs. That was
one of the reasons the first 10
were under the lap record in
Sepang, while the top 11 broke it
in Qatar. In keeping with the past
three years, lap and race records
should continue to fall.
If that's not enough to whet
the appetite, there's been enough
in KTM's and Aprilia's respective
winters to suggest they'll be reg-
ular thorns in the side of Ducati's
armada. The Austrian factory, in
particular, has set its sights on a
championship challenge thanks
to some tweaks to its RC16, with
Brad Binder calling the outing at
Sepang "one of the best pre-
season tests I've ever had—if we
keep this up, we'll be there."
Add in Yamaha and Honda
showing signs they've negotiated
a way out of their worst spells,
with a much-needed change of
personnel and philosophy ap-
parent during the winter months.
Hopefully, by the year's second
half, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins
(Monster Energy Yamaha) and
Joan Mir (Repsol Honda) will be
back up where they should be.
A 22-round calendar has mer-
cifully been trimmed to 21 after
the late cancellation of Argentina
in February. But with stops in
countries as far-flung as India,
Japan and the new Sokol Inter-
national Circuit in Kazakhstan
(although doubts regarding the
venue remain) and the continua-
tion of last year's format—Sprint
race on Saturday, the feature
race on Sunday—MotoGP 2024
promises to be as gripping as
last year's version. It'll be a slog.
But surely this mix of riders and
machinery jostling for a mega
haul of 777 points can only result
in one thing: fun!
MARC MARQUEZ: A
RETURN TO GLORY?
Cal Crutchlow had few doubts.
"I've always said if Marc goes on
the Ducati the rest may as well
not turn up—it could well be com-
pletely boring," said the English-
man last October.
Yet, as Marquez was keen
to point out, it's been well over
two years since his last victory
(October, 2021). He is not only
switching from a bike that de-
manded a similar riding style for
WIND
IN THE
P56
Could Marc Marquez pull another magic season as a first on a Ducati?
