Who Will Fill Marc Marquez’s Shoes at Gresini? Five Contenders to Watch

Potential Successors for Marc Marquez at Gresini: Five Candidates to Consider for Replacing Marc Marquez

Marc Marquez’s move to the factory Ducati team in 2025 creates a vacancy for a rider at Gresini.

Alex Marquez, his brother, also has his contract expiring this year, but there are few indications he will leave the team.

Following Marc Marquez's departure, numerous riders will be keen to acquire the year-old Desmosedici bike…

Joan Mir, who was Marc Marquez’s last teammate at Repsol Honda before Marquez left to join Gresini last year, has been yearning for an opportunity to leave as well.

Mir has faced a challenging period ever since he had to seek new opportunities following Suzuki's departure from MotoGP and his subsequent move to Honda.

Over the past two seasons, the 2020 MotoGP champion has struggled to demonstrate anything close to his peak performance.

In his initial year with Honda, Mir faced numerous accidents, leading him to contemplate retirement midway through the season.

This season, he has been confined to the rear of the lineup but is aware that his contract is nearing its expiration.

Mir has acknowledged that he no longer has the standing to propel himself to the forefront of the rider market.

However, since several major players such as Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini, and Jorge Martin have already committed, he may need to make his choice in the near future.

Despite not having the factory-spec Ducati, Gresini remains an appealing option.

Evidence of their ability to revive a rider's career is demonstrated not only by Marc Marquez but also by Alex. Last year, Alex experienced a resurgence in his career, his first season donning Gresini's blue colors.

Mir might be able to emulate the Marquez brothers' actions by leaving behind a dreadful stint with Honda and aiming to reignite his passion for racing with a family-operated team that has a very competitive motorcycle.

Franco Morbidelli

The destiny of Pramac remains uncertain.

Their future with Ducati, where they currently enjoy a factory-spec bike, is uncertain. Meanwhile, an enticing proposal from Yamaha is on the table.

Pramac is aware that Jorge Martin will be leaving for Aprilia, while Franco Morbidelli's future for 2025 remains uncertain as his contract ends this year.

Morbidelli has just started to catch up with the speed on his GP24 this year, following a preseason disrupted by an injury.

Morbidelli had a very poor beginning, which put him at a disadvantage, particularly after his departure from Yamaha last season amidst ongoing rumors about him being cut from the team.

Should Pramac decide to go with an entirely new set of riders or if Yamaha opts for a fresh beginning, Morbidelli may find himself needing a new opportunity elsewhere.

When he's performing at his peak, he is definitely still capable of competing at the forefront of MotoGP, but he hasn't demonstrated this consistently in recent times.

The more relaxed atmosphere of the Gresini team, away from Marquez's spotlight and the pressures of a factory-spec Ducati, might be the perfect setting for Morbidelli to showcase his remaining potential.

Alex Rins

Throughout his MotoGP career, Alex Rins has ridden Japanese-made motorcycles, but he might be interested in trying out more competitive options.

Rins' contract with Yamaha is set to expire at the end of this season, and he has not yet decided on his plans for 2025.

A prime illustration of Rins' abilities was showcased in Texas last year, where he achieved a victory in a grand prix, marking the first time a Honda rider other than Marc Marquez had done so since 2018.

Reflecting on the current performance of the Hondas, that outcome seems even more impressive.

In recent seasons, Gresini has secured grand prix victories with riders Enea Bastianini and Fabio di Giannantonio. They aim to continue competing for podium finishes, and Alex Rins, who has previous experience in achieving this, is a viable candidate.

Alex Rins, who has won five MotoGP races, has faced significant challenges over the past two seasons with Honda and Yamaha, including suffering a severe leg fracture last year. Nonetheless, his career achievements remain impressive.

Augusto Fernandez

In a surprising announcement, Tech3 KTM revealed that their riders for the 2025 season will be Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales, effectively ending Fernandez's chances with the team.

KTM's official team lineup has been finalized, which means Fernandez and Jack Miller are exploring new opportunities in MotoGP.

Despite Fernandez being overshadowed in KTM's progress—largely due to the exceptional performance of his teammate Pedro Acosta—he was once considered a top talent.

A year ago, KTM decided to extend Fernandez’s contract and let go of Pol Espargaro to create a spot for Acosta, even though it might have been simpler to part ways with Fernandez.

Fernandez, who won the Moto2 championship in 2022, stepped up to the top tier of racing

Acosta's achievements have raised the bar of what is expected, yet Fernandez remains a strong contender for teams seeking a skilled rider.

Gresini might benefit from giving another chance to a rider who urgently needs support and confidence from someone.

Fermin Aldeguer, a rising star in Moto2, has not yet secured a team for the next season.

Ducati has offered him a MotoGP contract, but they haven't assigned him to a particular team at this time.

Aldeguer thinks he will be using factory-level equipment, which suggests an association with Pramac.

Due to uncertainty surrounding Pramac's future with Ducati, Aldeguer might have to look for opportunities with another team.

Placing him in the Gresini team might be the perfect initial move into the top-tier category.

Gaining insights from a seasoned rider and a compatriot, Alex Marquez, could create an ideal setting for his initial rounds.

If the rumors in the paddock about Aldeguer's talent are accurate, spending a year with Gresini might set him up well for a significant advancement within the Ducati family.

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