Several riders are changing MotoGP teams for 2024. How will they fare? One of the best ever transfers was Rossi to Yamaha, which was a 10 out of 10 for both rider and team. Let’s compare this silly season’s outcome.
Marc Marquez to Gresini Ducati
For Rider: 10/10
The octochamp gets to ride a sorted version of the best bike on the grid, helped by the brilliant race engineer who saved Fabio DiGiBox from being relegated to MotoE.
For Team: 10/10
They’ve bagged one of the best riders in history and are probably going to win the world title. The only downside for the squad of Italian minnows is that they’ll wear about 500 sets of rosary beads down to the string every weekend as penance for hiring the Spanish Antichrist.
Pedro Acosta to GasGas KTM
For Rider: 7/10
It’s not a Ducati, but it’s a decent bike. It’s also tricky to set up, which will be a great excuse for a few rubbish performances.
For Team: 10/10
Acosta is said to be a generational talent, but a MotoGP bike is stoatally different to a Moto2 machine. GasGas will hope that he weaselly makes the switch.
Alex Rins to Yamaha
For Rider: 8/10
It might not be a Ducati, but what Rins really needs right now is just a bike that won’t constantly fire him into the scenery and cause him to miss 40 races next year.
For Team: 7/10
Yamaha already have the brilliant Quartarararo, so all they want is a solid number two rider with almost the full complement of legs.
Fabio DiGiBox to VR46 Ducati
For Rider: 9/10
Staying on a Ducati is the best option as he’s only just started to get the hang of the things.
For Team: 6/10
DiGi isn’t one of Rossi’s gang, so they won’t be happy at being railroaded into hiring him just to make Dorna look less like a bunch of buffoons who run a championship that constantly chews up and spits out talented young riders.
Zarco to LCR Honda
For Rider: 4/10
In the twilight of his MotoGP career, he could do without being stuck with a bike that’ll break about 26 of his bones per year.
For Team: 7/10
A safe pair of hands, which will reduce to one safe hand after the other one gets snapped off in a massive highside.
Luca Marini to Repsol Honda
For Rider: 3/10
Rossi’s brother showed well in the Valencia test at “just” 7 tenths of a second off the pace. This will slow down by a further 3 or 4 tenths as he gets to know the bike as well as Joan Mir does (i.e. after it’s viciously fired him over the highside for no reason a few dozen times and hospitalized him for half the season).
For Team: 2/10
There were 8 Ducati riders in 2023. 7 of them won races. Honda hired the other one!!!
Frankie Morbidelli to Pramac Ducati
For Rider: 10/10
Frankie should really be starting his 2nd year in World Superbike, but inexplicably he’s scored a seat on a full fat Desmosedici!
For Team: 1/10
WTF, dude? Seriously, WTAF???