Disappointing award for MotoGP's 'least impressive performer of the year' announced

Our specialists identify the competitor who fell short of expectations in 2024

No one aspires to fall short of their potential.

Regrettably, during the 2024 MotoGP season, there was one rider who noticeably underperformed compared to expectations.

Once more, the season was ruled by Ducati. Marc Marquez showcased the potential of the GP23, yet no other riders could equal his performance, underscoring his exceptional talent.

This led our analysts to contemplate who could be considered MotoGP's most notable underperformer of the year…

Lewis Duncan: Heading into 2024, Marco Bezzecchi was anticipated to pose a significant challenge to the leading title contenders, following his impressive performance in 2023 where he secured three grand prix victories and clinched third place in the standings with the VR46 team.

However, he fell significantly short of reaching that level of performance in 202

The GP23's incompatibility with his aggressive braking technique significantly contributed to the issue. However, his teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was riding the identical motorcycle, managed to secure a 12-point lead in the championship, even though he missed the last two races due to undergoing surgery.

Bezzecchi now has a significant challenge ahead at Aprilia, stepping up as a factory rider to compete against the current world champion, Jorge Martin.

Jordan Moreland: Following his impressive showings throughout 2023, Marco Bezzecchi secured a spot among the top three in the World Championship standings.

His performance in 2024 fell short, lagging behind Marc Marquez's leading GP23 score by 239 points.

We're optimistic that he'll enhance his performance with Aprilia by 2025.

Peter McLaren: After being outperformed solely by Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin in the previous season, securing three Grand Prix victories, it was unforeseen by many that Marco Bezzecchi would fall to 12th place in this year's world championship, becoming the lowest-ranked among the Ducati competitors.

His standout moment came with a podium finish at Jerez.

Following the announcement of Bezzecchi's contract with Aprilia for 2025, Massimo Rivola remarked, “In my opinion, the true representation of Bezzecchi is reflective of his performance last year rather than this year.”

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EXCLUSIVE: Frankie Carchedi Shares Insights on Parting Ways with Marc Marquez Instead of Joining the Factory Team

Frankie Carchedi opens up about the conclusion of his professional collaboration with Marc Marquez.

Next season, Marc Marquez will be working with a new crew chief, among various other new challenges he will face at the factory Ducati team.

This signifies the end of collaboration with Frankie Carchedi, who played a pivotal role in guiding Marquez back to victory lane this year within the confines of the Gresini team.

Carchedi is set to continue his partnership with Gresini, collaborating with Fermin Aldeguer through 2025. Meanwhile, Marquez is poised to join forces with Marco Rigamonti at Ducati's official team.

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"Carchedi shared exclusively with Crash.net's MotoGP podcast, 'That's the situation.'"

"I work for Gresini and maintain an excellent rapport with the team."

"When Marc arrived, it brought both joy and sorrow due to Diggia's departure."

"You put in the effort, and by the year's conclusion, we could claim to have the quickest pace on track [with Diggia]. Yet, you're back at square one. And the scenario will repeat itself [with Fermin in 2025].

"With Fermin, we're looking at a two-year timeframe. That's a huge advantage in my eyes because it allows for significant progress. It's similar to relationships in that way; everything develops over time."

"I'm confident that by the end, Santi [Hernandez, Marquez's Repsol Honda crew chief] could understand Marc's intentions for the bike without even needing to communicate verbally. He could tell just from a glance. That's the nature of their understanding.

"By the conclusion, one might similarly argue in the case of Marc."

Even with his helmet still on, a mere glance at him was enough to tell if things were proceeding positively or not.

"It's simply a bond. And with more time spent together, the deeper the mutual understanding becomes."

For years, Marquez had dedicatedly collaborated with Hernandez at Repsol Honda. This year, his switch to a different manufacturer also led to a change in his crew chief.

Marquez brought along just a single engineer, Javi Ortiz, from Honda to Gresini.

Carchedi played a pivotal role in Joan Mir securing the 2020 MotoGP championship with Suzuki and has now earned the distinction of being the crew chief instrumental in Marquez's significant recovery milestone.

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EXCLUSIVE: Frankie Carchedi Shares His Thoughts on Not Joining Marc Marquez in the Factory Team

Frankie Carchedi discusses the conclusion of his professional partnership with Marc Marquez.

Next season, Marc Marquez will work alongside a different crew chief, which is one of the numerous new challenges he will face with the factory Ducati team.

This indicates a departure from Frankie Carchedi, who has been instrumental in Marquez’s comeback to success within the Gresini team this year.

Carchedi is set to stay with Gresini and collaborate with Fermin Aldeguer in 2025. Meanwhile, Marquez will team up with Marco Rigamonti in the factory Ducati squad.

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"That's the situation," Carchedi shared exclusively with Crash.net's MotoGP podcast.

"I work for Gresini and have an excellent rapport with the team."

"When Marc arrived, it brought both joy and sorrow due to Diggia's departure."

"You put in all the effort, and by the end of the year, we were potentially the quickest on the track with Diggia. Then you have to begin anew. It'll be just the same with Fermin in 2025."

"However, with Fermin, we have a two-year period. This is a significant advantage for me since it allows us to truly advance. It's similar to building relationships; everything requires time."

It’s quite certain that by the end, Santi Hernandez, who is Marc Marquez’s crew chief at Repsol Honda, didn’t need to communicate verbally with Marc. Simply by observing him, he could understand precisely what changes Marc wanted for the bike. That’s the nature of their collaboration.

"By the end, I might have been able to say the same about Marc."

"You could tell right away how things were going just by looking at him, even with his helmet still on."

"It's simply a matter of building a connection. As you spend more time together, your understanding of one another improves."

After spending years at Repsol Honda collaborating closely with Hernandez, Marquez's switch to a different manufacturer this year also brought about a new crew chief for him.

Marquez brought just a single engineer, Javi Ortiz, from Honda to join him at Gresini.

Carchedi played a significant role in Joan Mir's success in securing the 2020 MotoGP championship with Suzuki. He can now also claim the title of crew chief who assisted Marquez in making an important stride in his return.

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Liberty Media faces a new challenge from the European Union regarding its MotoGP acquisition. The EU is preparing to investigate the proposed deal.

The European Union is expected to investigate Liberty Media's intended acquisition of the MotoGP World Championship, potentially impacting the transaction.

According to business networks Bloomberg and Reuters, the European Union's newly appointed antitrust leader, Teresa Ribera, along with her team, has expressed concern that the 3.5 billion euro agreement might hinder competition in the broadcasting and streaming sectors by placing the MotoGP and F1 brands under a single ownership.

Earlier this year, the American corporation that owns Formula 1 revealed that it had secured an 86% majority stake to purchase Dorna Sports and MotoGP. Since this announcement, Liberty Media has been navigating the required regulatory procedures to finalize the acquisition by the end of the year.

In August, it was revealed that Liberty Media intended to sell F1 shares valued at $825 million to help finance its proposed purchase of MotoGP.

In November, Greg Maffei, the CEO, announced that the company had submitted its acquisition of MotoGP to the European Commission for approval.

He mentioned, "Regarding MotoGP briefly, we've submitted our application to the European Commission for regulatory approval and anticipate obtaining it by the end of the year."

The European Commission is expected to make a decision regarding Liberty's acquisition of MotoGP by December 19th. However, due to recent developments, authorities are reportedly gearing up to commence a phase 2 investigation by the same deadline. According to a Bloomberg report, this decision is still in draft form and could be altered.

In 2006, CVC Capital acquired F1 but had to relinquish its stake in MotoGP due to pressure from competition authorities. This action was necessary to prevent a monopoly in the motorsport industry, leading to MotoGP's sale to its present owner, Bridgepoint.

As early as October this year, Belgian Member of the European Parliament Pascal Arimont requested that the European Commission look into Liberty Media due to concerns about it potentially having a monopoly over global motorsport, given its ownership of both Formula 1 and MotoGP.

From the start, Liberty has been assured that the situation will be different this time. Reuters contacted Liberty Media for a statement, but they have yet to reply.

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MotoGP's infamous "underachiever of the year" award has been announced

Our panel identifies the rider who did not meet expectations in 2024

No one aspires to perform below their potential.

Regrettably, during the 2024 MotoGP season, a particular rider became prominent for achieving significantly less than we had expected.

In yet another season, Ducati took the lead. Marc Marquez showcased the potential of the GP23, leaving other riders unable to keep up, highlighting his exceptional talent.

This led our specialists to consider which rider in MotoGP didn't perform up to expectations this year…

Reporter Lewis Duncan suggests that Marco Bezzecchi is anticipated to once again challenge the leading contenders in the 2024 championship. In 2023, Bezzecchi secured three grand prix victories and achieved third place in the rankings while riding for VR46.

However, he did not achieve that level of performance in 2024.

A significant factor was that the GP23 did not complement his aggressive braking technique. In contrast, his teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was riding the same model, managed to accumulate 12 more points in the rankings, even though he missed the last two races due to undergoing surgery.

Bezzecchi has a significant challenge ahead at Aprilia, competing as a factory rider against the current world champion, Jorge Martin.

Jordan Moreland: Following Marco Bezzecchi's achievements in 2023, he secured a position within the top three in the World Championship standings.

In 2024, his performance fell short as he trailed Marc Marquez's leading GP23 score by 239 points.

We are optimistic that he will enhance his performance while riding the Aprilia in 2025.

Peter McLaren: Last season, Marco Bezzecchi finished behind only Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, securing three Grand Prix victories. It's surprising to see him fall to 12th place in this year's world championship, ending up as the lowest-ranked Ducati rider.

His standout moment was reaching the podium in Jerez.

Aprilia's Massimo Rivola commented on securing Bezzecchi for the 2025 season, stating, "I believe that Bezzecchi's true potential was shown last year, not this year."

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A MotoGP competitor maintained a composed demeanor in front of the media, yet behind the scenes in the garage, the atmosphere was tense. The rider was frustrated due to the team's inability to deliver an improved motorcycle.

Johann Zarco's genuine thoughts on his 2024 Honda have now been fully revealed.

Lucio Cecchinello, the head of the LCR Honda team, has openly admitted that Zarco hasn't always been forthright with his opinions in public.

In 2024, Zarco transitioned from Pramac Ducati to LCR Honda, becoming part of a team facing challenges, where he kept his opinions to himself.

"The start of the 2024 season was challenging," Cecchinello remarked.

In public, Zarco consistently aimed to maintain an upbeat demeanor. However, I can reveal that there were occasions when things got tense behind the scenes in the garage.

"It's understandable. The cyclist was frustrated since we were unable to offer a superior bicycle."

"We were positioned last in the standings. It was challenging."

"We continued to improve the motorcycle, and Honda performed exceptionally well. As the season wraps up, we're more satisfied because we're closer to breaking into the top 10."

Throughout 20 grand prix races, the LCR team managed to outperform their factory team rivals 16 times.

Throughout the season, Zarco consistently clocked the quickest times among Honda riders. He ended up in 17th place in the overall rankings, outperforming the other three Honda competitors.

Aleix Espargaro's performance is described as outstanding. LCR has decided to retain Zarco for the 2025 season, while Takaaki Nakagami, who will be Zarco's teammate in 2024, has been reassigned to the position of a test rider.

Somkiat Chantra is advancing to MotoGP to join the LCR team alongside Zarco.

Aleix Espargaro will accompany Nakagami on the test team.

Cecchinello remarked that there is no doubt about Aleix being a highly skilled rider, and his achievements throughout his career are impressive.

"He continued to put in maximum effort right up until the final race, which is something you don't often see."

Often, as people near the conclusion of their careers, they ponder, "Why should I embrace any risk? There's no point in taking chances; I don't want to end my career with an injury like a broken leg!"

"However, he did not stop; he continued to persevere. It's truly impressive."

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For ten years, James worked as a sports journalist at Sky Sports, where he reported on a variety of sports including American sports, football, and Formula 1.

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Marc Marquez discloses varied requirements led to parting ways with Emilio Alzamora

“As a rider ages, his needs change…”

Marc Marquez's decision to part ways with Emilio Alzamora during 2022 marked a significant shift for the eight-time World Champion, attributing this move to his own evolving maturity.

Since the age of 12, Marquez had collaborated with Alzamora, who currently manages a team in the JuniorGP series featuring the Italian racer Guido Pini. Pini, who regards Marquez as one of his idols, secured a second-place finish in this year's championship, a remarkable feat considering he only competed in half of the season. However, upon reaching 30, Marquez felt it was time for a new direction.

Looking back, it appears that Marquez's parting ways with Alzamora was the initial move in a broader strategy for transformation, leading him to transition from Repsol Honda to join Ducati's premier factory squad for the 2025 season.

Nonetheless, Marquez expressed that the separation was largely due to his personal evolution over the years, and how his requirements, both as an individual and as a motorcyclist, had evolved alongside.

"In an interview with Motosan, Marquez mentioned that as a rider ages, their requirements change."

"Often, even if you're deeply in love at 18, it doesn't guarantee she's the one you'll spend your life with."

"At a certain juncture, whether it was the circumstances I found myself in or my own necessities, I started to perceive my private life from a new perspective. This realization necessitated making choices that prioritized my personal health and happiness."

"We've consistently delivered outstanding work as a team, yet there were distinct requirements, and at that moment, I sensed a need for a shift."

Marquez stated: "The requirements you have at 18 aren't the same as when you're 30. Making the decision to part ways with Emilio [Alzamora] at 30, he's free to take the songs along."

"Why search for someone else to bring it to you? Ultimately, the motorcycle, the helmet, the gear, you can select it all yourself."

"As a young person, it's important to embrace guidance."

"At the age of 30, when you're familiar with how things are progressing in the subject and have gained some experience—it doesn't imply that all your choices are correct, but as an instance, no one advised me to depart from Honda and join Gresini."

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KTM may divest its shares in MV Agusta, as suggested by various news outlets.

Various news outlets are indicating that KTM might be gearing up to put MV Agusta on the market.

Earlier this year, the Pierer Mobility Group (PMG), the parent company of motorcycle brands KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas, finalized its purchase of a majority 50.1% share in MV Agusta. This followed an initial acquisition of 25.1% of the shares back in November 2022.

Nonetheless, given the declining financial health of the Austrian firm, which has now reached a stage where it is engaged in insolvency proceedings to fend off bankruptcy, it is said to have made the decision to let go of the MV Agusta brand, deeming it non-essential to keep.

As reported by Hindustan Times, a notable Indian news outlet, PMG held discussions with labor union officials at Confidustria Varese, during which it was stated that MV Agusta is no longer deemed a strategic investment.

As reported by the Hindustan Times, MV Agusta's manufacturing activities are set to be relocated back to the company's Varese facility in Italy by March 2025.

According to Italian publication GPOne.com, the motivation behind the sale of the MV Agusta brand is twofold: decreasing PMG's operational expenses and increasing the firm's capital.

News has surfaced that the Pierer Mobility Group (PMG) may potentially be parting ways with MV Agusta, a mere nine months following the Austrian company's acquisition of a majority stake in the brand. While official confirmation from PMG is still pending, such a move would inevitably halt rumors about MV Agusta's potential return to the premier class of Grand Prix racing under Austrian ownership, a topic that has been in discussion since 2023.

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Fabio Di Giannantonio evaluates his MotoGP campaign: "I believe I've performed quite well"

Following a nearly missed opportunity to compete in MotoGP in 2023, Fabio Di Giannantonio secured a spot riding a factory motorcycle in 2024.

Fabio Di Giannantonio's 2024 MotoGP campaign was somewhat inconsistent, yet the Italian believes it was a steady season overall.

Di Giannantonio concluded the 2023 season by winning in Qatar and securing a podium position in Valencia, although the latter was revoked due to a violation related to tyre pressure.

Before the season-ending performances, it appeared he was on his way out of MotoGP, but those outcomes secured him a spot on the VR46 Ducati team for 2024, where he will team up with Marco Bezzecchi.

Despite Bezzecchi achieving the team's sole podium finish in 2024, Di Giannantonio demonstrated greater consistency by securing placements within the fourth to seventh range in nearly every race during the season's initial half. He then concluded his season with two fourth-place finishes in Australia and Thailand.

He exited the 2024 season prematurely due to an accident during a training session in Austria. The incident caused him to pull out of the competition at the Red Bull Ring because of a shoulder injury. Subsequently, it was decided that concluding his season early, with two events remaining, to undergo shoulder surgery would provide him with the greatest chance of beginning the 2025 season in optimal health.

Whenever Di Giannantonio was in peak condition to compete, his consistently impressive showings were sufficient to secure him a factory-spec Desmosedici GP25 for the upcoming season. This achievement distinguishes him as the sole satellite rider to pilot a Ducati that matches the specifications of those ridden by the factory team's Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez in 2025.

Consequently, Di Giannantonio expressed that he would rate his season with a score of "8 out of 10," according to a video shared on social media by the VR46 Ducati team.

"He elaborated, saying, 'I believe my riding performance this year has been notably superior.'"

"I've maintained strength and consistency throughout the entire season. However, we've consistently fallen short of securing a spot on the podium, so I'd give it an 8 out of 10."

He mentioned that his top performance occurred at the same location as where he achieved his initial podium finish in 2023: Phillip Island.

"At Phillip Island, finishing in fourth place was a highlight because we put on an excellent performance," he expressed. "Our speed was impressive, we maintained a competitive pace, and we were on the brink of securing a podium finish."

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Double MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia made a heartfelt stop at a pediatric hospital in Italy.

Ducati MotoGP team member Francesco Bagnaia recently made a visit to a children's hospital in Italy, where he gifted autographed t-shirts and caps as presents for Christmas.

Bagnaia, from Turin, made a visit to Casa UGI (Italian Parents Union) situated in the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in the capital of Piedmont, accompanied by his wife, Domizia.

Casa UGI is a facility featuring 22 apartment units designed to accommodate families of children and teenagers from outside Turin. These families can reside here while their young ones receive cancer therapy at the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital.

"This afternoon, Francesco Bagnaia along with his wife, Domizia Castagnini, made a heartfelt visit to the young patients at the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Turin," shared a post on UGI's social media.

The double MotoGP World Champion spent time engaging with the young ones at Casa UGI. During his visit to the Regina Margherita hospital, he was joined by Professor Franca Fagioli and Emma Postiglione, the UGI General Secretary, within the departments of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Transplant Center, and the Margherita Island Hospice.

Pecco handed out smiles along with signed merchandise, including T-shirts and caps, to every patient in the hospital.

"An unforgettable Christmas day filled with joy and carefree moments that will stay in the hearts of the kids and young ones."

This isn't Bagnaia's initial visit to Casa UGI— he previously made a trip there on the eve of last Christmas, accompanied by leaders from his official fan club.

On this occasion, Bagnaia's trip to Casa UGI came after he showcased a unique helmet design during this year's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The design was a tribute to Tortellante, a specialized tortellini-making company in Italy that focuses on assisting individuals with autism and their families in Modena.

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Francesco Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP World Champion, made a visit to a pediatric hospital in Italy.

Ducati's MotoGP competitor, Francesco Bagnaia, made a special trip to a children's hospital in Italy, where he distributed t-shirts and hats autographed by him as Christmas presents.

Bagnaia, originally from Turin, paid a visit to Casa UGI (Italian Parents' Union) located at the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in Piedmont's capital, accompanied by his spouse, Domizia.

Casa UGI provides 22 apartment units where families of minors not residing in Turin can reside during the period their child or teenager is receiving cancer care at the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital.

"This afternoon, Francesco Bagnaia and his spouse, Domizia Castagnini, made a heartfelt visit to the children of UGI and the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital located in Turin," stated a post on UGI's social media.

The double MotoGP World Champion spent time engaging with kids at Casa UGI. During his visit to the Regina Margherita hospital, he was joined by Professor Franca Fagioli and Emma Postiglione, the General Secretary of UGI, within the departments of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Transplant Centre, and the Margherita Island Hospice.

Pecco handed out grins and various items (signed T-shirts and caps) to every patient in the hospital.

"An unforgettable Christmas afternoon awaits the kids and young boys, eager for moments filled with joy and carefree fun."

Bagnaia's trip to Casa UGI wasn't a novel occurrence; he had previously made a visit on the eve of Christmas the prior year, coordinating the visit with leaders of his dedicated fan club.

Bagnaia's trip to Casa UGI comes after he showcased a special helmet at this year's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The helmet design was a tribute to Tortellante, a company in Italy known for its tortellini. Tortellante is notable for its efforts to assist individuals with autism and their families in Modena.

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Johann Zarco gains additional inspiration from being the most senior participant in MotoGP as he enters the 2025 season as the oldest competitor.

Aleix Espargaro's exit from regular competition positions Johann Zarco as MotoGP's most senior competitor in 2025, a development Zarco claims provides him with "additional incentive".

Zarco embarked on his MotoGP journey in 2017 with Tech3 Yamaha and has since competed on motorcycles from four distinct manufacturers in the series.

At the age of 27, he made his first appearance in MotoGP at Qatar nearly eight years back, whereas nowadays, newcomers to MotoGP are generally significantly younger.

For instance, Ai Ogura is set to ascend to MotoGP next season, joining Trackhouse Aprilia at 23, following his victory in this year's Moto2 championship. Meanwhile, Gresini Ducati's newcomer for the 2025 season, Fermin Aldeguer, will not turn 20 until April.

"Indeed, I'll be the eldest among us, with Marc [Marquez] coming in as the next oldest," Zarco remarked to MotoGP.com.

The sensation of being around these new faces, who are around 20 or 22 years old, really fuels my drive to continue performing at my best, staying sharp to compete alongside them.

"However, I am aware that through my experience, I can make up for various shortcomings."

Midway through 2023, Zarco inked a deal with LCR Honda for the 2024 season, but his prospects of securing his initial MotoGP win appeared to wane as the RC213V faced performance challenges.

However, the French rider managed to secure a victory in one of the final four races during his tenure with the Pramac Ducati squad, achieving this feat at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix.

"Zarco mentioned that it was a lengthy process, stretching from 2017 to 2023."

It's possible to believe it might never occur.

"Therefore, it can be described as a form of alleviation from pressure when this occurred."

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In August 2024, Alex became a part of the Crash.net crew after spending two years as a reporter on motorcycle racing and consumer news for Visordown.

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