Since yesterday, we have looked back in detail on the 2024 season, and with hindsight, fortunately Marc Marquez was there. After having spoken at length about my main disappointments with this exercise, it is time to complete it, with some more positive points. In order to get a true idea of my thoughts, I strongly recommend that you read the first part of this analysis by clicking here. So, apart from the lack of spectacle in its broadest definition, what can we learn from this campaign?
Marc Marquez, generator of passion
If Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia are two beautiful and great driversthey fail to create massive enthusiasm like Marc Marquez was able to do almost ten years ago, or even, one could say, Pedro Acosta this year. After all, it's normal to talk about the eight-time world champion's season, because, firstly, it's the return to action of one of the greatest drivers of all timeand, secondly, because it was particularly successful.
Marc Marquez, this year's spice. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
In the absence of a frankly convincing Enea Bastianini from start to finish, Marc Marquez left a very good impression on me. It didn't surprise me, no, but it is clear that he was often the only one able to offer small moments of history, striking images; in short, spectacle. Because that’s something that was missing this season. What photography will we remember in ten years? None come to me, just as it is particularly difficult for me to isolate a MotoGP race and elevate it to the rank of “classic”.
Love him or hate him, when Marc Marquez is on the bike, something happens. I will not return here to his sporting results, as they will be the subject of another article.. It's simply a question of show, of legend, of greatness. And none comes close to Marquez currently. Certainly, he sometimes clashes unnecessarily with latecomers – Joan Mir has paid the price on several occasions – and yes, it is not always clean or within the rules. But it's Marc Marquez. And that’s also why we turn on the TV.
Unlike 2022 and 2023, which were really good years punctuated by interesting battles, the 2024 financial year did not offer us much. In this context, I felt like I was waiting for Marc Marquez to light the flamethat he was the only one who could save me from yet another “Lorenzo-style” performance that all drivers are adept at these days.
Lack of spectacle in the broadest sense of the term
helped me realize the importance of Marquez in the current landscape.
Pedro Acosta leaves a bit of the same impression, but he couldn't compete with the Ducati. This year, only nine drivers have tasted the podium (including him), compared to fifteen in 2023. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
The Ducati year
This subject will be the subject of an article, where we will study the results of the Borgo Panigale firm in detail, but here I want to look at the visual and sentimental impression left by Ducati domination. Like all crushed eras, we can't rejoice about it, but I find that the public is quite harsh on the reds. I don't remember hearing so many complaints during the Honda era in the late 1990s. Maybe it's the times, or memory playing tricks on me.
Still, we have witnessed an absolutely historic season. No brand has been able to hold off Ducati. KTM, which we thought was on the upward slope, was quite disappointing, just like Aprilia which fell quite a bit over the year. The passion of Tardozzi and his men at least allowed us to have a close title race, which is not insignificant and would never have happened at the end of the nineties with Honda. We have to take our hats off to them, because not everyone would have dared to give the same equipment to a satellite team.
They must be congratulated, because I find that we are quick to trivialize such exploits. All manufacturers have relatively similar chances, so, imagine the difficulty of designing a machine that is so often victorious in our time.
Conclusion
I thought Bastianini was capable of more brilliant moves. His season was worse than in 2022, when he was with Gresini. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
The moment comes when this long retrospective ends. Finally, was it a good year? The answer to this question is highly subjective, of course. In my opinion, it was quite average, definitely the one I liked the least since 2021mainly because of these too many victories acquired with a boulevard in advance and the lack of personality of the winners.
I'm curious to know what you think, so,
tell me in comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
