MotoGP Barcelona Test: Alex Marquez Leads the Timesheets as Marc Shines on Ducati Lenovo Debut

The 2024 MotoGP pre-season test brought big changes as riders debuted with new teams. 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin joined Aprilia alongside Marco Bezzecchi, while Marc Marquez switched to the Ducati Factory Team to partner with Francesco Bagnaia. Pedro Acosta rode for Red Bull KTM, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales for Tech3 KTM, Franco Morbidelli for VR46, and Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller for Pramac Yamaha. Rookies Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer, and Somkiat Chantra also made their MotoGP debuts with Trackhouse, Gresini and LCR Honda respectively.

Alex Marquez impressed on his Gresini GP24 debut, leading most of the day with a 1m38.803s lap despite a crash at Turn 7. Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo briefly challenged him, but Marquez reclaimed the top spot. 

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Marc Marquez, the six-time MotoGP champion, made a strong debut with Ducati's factory team. After a year with Gresini Racing, Marquez impressed on the new bike, completing 49 laps and securing fourth position with a late 1m39.454s lap.

The 2024 season is shaping up to be highly competitive, with fans eagerly awaiting the action ahead.

MotoGP: 2024 Official Barcelona Test Result

World champion Jorge Martin, now riding for Aprilia, made a strong impression on his debut, showcasing both speed and resilience. Despite a crash at Turn 5, Martin's positive attitude and determination were evident.

Another notable accident occurred when Enea Bastianini suffered a severe crash on his KTM RC16 at the same corner. His new teammate Maverick Vinales finished 12th.

Aleix Espargaro, who recently retired from full-time racing, made his debut as an HRC test rider, providing valuable insights to the team. Among the rookie class, Fermin Aldeguer, Ai Ogura, and Somkiat Chantra showed promise, despite early crashes.

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With Fabio di Giannantonio sidelined due to injury, Michele Pirro stepped in to represent VR46. Pirro also took the opportunity to test a new two-way radio communication system, a potential game-changer for future MotoGP races.