The 2024 season has begun and we are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of MotoGP! 1015 Grands Prix since 1949, 3371 races in the solo classes and 30 countries as venues – the history of the motorcycle world championship is long and full of legends.
As a MotoGP fan, you naturally have your own favorite moments. For me, the legendary overtaking maneuver by Valentino Rossi on his Yamaha against Casey Stoner on a Ducati at Laguna Seca in 2008 is unforgettable. In that race, Rossi showed an incredible talent for watching his opponents and wearing them down. Rossi drove Stroner into a mistake and won Laguna Seca. To this day one of my favorite battles. t.
However, I consider Giacomo Agostini to be the “greatest rider” in history. His versatility and his success in various classes – from 500cc to 350cc – are simply impressive. In this day and age, it’s hard to imagine a rider like Marc Marquez or Francesco Bagnaia competing in both Moto3 and MotoGP.
2024 season opener: Ducati dominance and surprises
Back to the season opener in Qatar: Ducati’s dominance was once again clear to see, both in the sprint and in the race. Only Brad Binder on KTM was able to disrupt the Ducati party somewhat. KTM seems to have made a clear step forward, which makes for more excitement in the field. The performance of the Japanese manufacturers was disappointing. Yamaha and Honda do not appear to have found any ground-breaking solutions during the winter break to regain their former strength.
Marc Marquez reserved, Pedro Acosta strong as a bear
Marc Marquez’s reticence in his debut race on the Ducati was also interesting. In interviews and on the track, he appeared much more cautious than in his earlier years. The old instinct to always go to the limit and beyond seems to have given way to common sense. The last few years on the Honda and the injuries have left their mark. I think it’s good that he’s now exercising common sense, but I assume that this will change quickly. Because you can’t simply discard his instinct. He will play a role in the battle for the world title this year.
Pedro Acosta, on the other hand, has made an impressive debut. There is no question that he is an exceptional talent. But MotoGP is an exhausting racing series and stamina is crucial. This year may still be a little too early for the rookie, but next year there will be no way around him when it comes to the title.
The 2024 MotoGP season has begun and promises excitement, surprises and plenty of anniversary action. Let’s look forward to the next races!
See you in two weeks! Your Miss MotoGP