Davide Tardozzi: Marquez Will Win Before Season Ends

Ducati Team Manager Lauds Marquez’s Growing Threat After Strong Fourth-Place Finish in Austria.

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Ducati race team manager Davide Tardozzi has expressed strong confidence in Marc Marquez’s ability to clinch a race victory before the end of the current MotoGP season. 

At the recent Austrian Grand Prix, Ducati showcased its dominance by placing three GP24s on the podium, with Pecco Bagnaia, Jorge Martín, and Enea Bastianini leading the charge.

Despite this, Tardozzi’s attention was also drawn to the impressive performance of Marquez, who secured a commendable fourth place.

Marquez, an eight-time world champion, made a high-profile switch to Ducati machinery for 2024, signing with Gresini to race aboard a GP23. 

Currently sitting fourth in the standings and 83 points behind the leader, Marquez has already accumulated nine podiums across the sprints and grands prix in the first 11 rounds of the season. 

However, his wait for another Grand Prix win has now extended to 1,000 days, though he has come close on several occasions this year.

Tardozzi remains confident that Marquez will break his winless streak before the season concludes. “I warned that Marquez would fight for victory on Sunday, and if we look at the second part of the race, he was the fastest driver on the track,” Tardozzi told AS.com. 

“With a good start, the podium, and perhaps even the victory, would have been within his reach.”

Marquez’s race in Austria was tarnished by a series of unfortunate events, including an accidental disengagement of his front ride height device and contact with Franco Morbidelli, which dropped him from third on the grid to 13th. 

Despite these challenges, Marquez managed to recover and finish in fourth place, underscoring his resilience and determination.

Looking ahead, Tardozzi emphasized Ducati’s focus on the present championship while acknowledging Marquez’s potential for future success with the team. 

“We are now focusing on our championship,” Tardozzi said. “Marc will be with us next year, but at the moment our factory riders are Pecco and Enea, so we expect them to deliver the best possible results. Having said that, we are not blind to the great potential Marc has.”

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Marquez to see if he can finally return to the top step of the podium and deliver the victory that both he and Ducati are eagerly anticipating.