I would say Marc is by far the best in the first half when you take into consideration other aspects. First, he is riding a Ducati after 11 years on Honda, and these are bikes that need to be ridden differently. And he has done it with relative ease. Remeber this is the same bike that even Martin and Pecco had issues at the start of 2023, and they've been riding Ducati all their career. Second, he was dueling with Pecco and Martin and have beaten them in some races with the GP23. Mind you, this is the Portimao Spec GP23 and not the valenica Spec. He is literally on a one year old machinery without any updates it had in 2023. And to fight with Pecco and Martin and even come out on top on some occasions using this version of GP23 is spectacular. Third, look at where the other GP23 riders are. I mean, Bez and even Diggia had beaten Pecco and Martin last year on a couple of races. But those guys even with more experience on Ducati is nowhere near Marc. He is just in a different postcode when you look at all the GP23 riders. It just shows the level of his performance abroad that bike. I think no other GP23 rider has finished above him in Sprint or Sunday race when Marc didnt encounter any problem. Marc has had some badluck too, like, The Weeper that took him out of the lead from Jerez Sprint win. The brake issue that caused him to crash from the lead in COTA The highside that absolutely wrecked his Sachsenring chances. He was looking ominous in FP1 and looking at his race pace, the amount of riders he had to overtake and the starting position and the morbedelli contact which again lost him a chunk of time, and still finishing second to Pecco. You can be sure he could have won the race had he had a normal weekend.
If you want to look at it plainly, then you say Bagnaia, he's leading the championship. But if you want to look into it in more detail and consider every aspect, you have to say Marc, he's been revived and is having an outstanding season, he's by far the best GP23 (2023 Portimao Spec as mentioned by Alex) and he's mixing it upfront with the latest and greatest bikes, in his first season at Ducati. Cannot wait to see Marc on the latest Ducati next year with a years experience on the Ducati under his belt.
#3: Marquez has made mistakes. Some could be because he was over riding the '23 Duc or inexperience with the bike in certain conditions, but he has ridden great but not as good as Martin or Pecco. #2: Martin could have ran away with this championship as IMO he is the fastest rider/bike combo of 2024. But he has made mistakes. Maybe knowing where he will be in 2025 will help the second half of the season. In a way, less pressure now than at the start of the season. #1: Pecco is getting stronger and has ridden flawlessly the last few rounds. He has to be #1.
@@sburns2421 Bagnaia and Martin have made more mistakes than Marquez. Bagnaia went off while leading the Sprint in Portimao, then took Marc out in the main race. Bagnaia was nowhere in Texas, had a DNF in the Sprint in France, had a DNF while leading the Sprint in Catalunya. Has been beaten by Marc who is riding the GP23 from Portimao last year, Bagnaia is on the latest and greatest Ducati which is far ahead of Marc's bike. Bagnaia has the best bike made for him, engineers and team, and he's only leading by 10 points. Given he has every advantage, he should be comfortably leading. Martin, no point even going there. The amount of times he's fallen in races, especially while leading is staggering, in no way is he ahead of Marc. We don't do could, would, shoulds...Yes he made be quick, but he keeps falling when it matters and can't manage his tyres in the main race. Marc's bike has been riddled with technical issues this year, and it's his first year on a inferior Ducati, he mixing it up with far superior bikes and riders who have ridden them for years already. Yes he's made mistakes, less so than Bagnaia and Martin actually, but considering he has to push harder just to keep up and is at a disadvantage with the team he is in, he's only a race and a half worth of points behind which is not bad all things considered. When you compare Marc to the other two, he has a tonne of things going against him this year. Marc has had lots of bad luck this year. It's Marc, then Bagnaia then Martin if you consider their bikes, how long they have been in the team, injuries, technical issues and all that. On an even playing field Marc wins all day long, just wait and see next year when Marc gets the best bike and team against Bagnaia.
@@rauly93 Marquez crash at COTA was in part caused because he collided with another rider and damaged his front brake. While he attempted to compensate, ultimately it wasn't enough at the pace he was attempting to keep. His biggest failing this year has been in qualifying, which puts him mid-pack and in the danger zone of every rider trying desperately to make up five spots in the first lap (like him!). This has definitely hurt his chances at more podium finishes.
@@rauly93Pecco took out Marc? lmao typical Marc fanboys. Marc overtook Pecco and Pecco try to close the door and was on racing line. It's Marc who crashes on Pecco not the other way around.
I have questions for your next podcast: Will Morbidelli be on a Yamaha next year? Were will Repsol go? Are they hammering out a deal with BMW? Who will be Honda's new sponsor next year? There are still riders without a ride for next year. Can there be anything happening that we haven't heard about yet?
Why is "Crash" the best MotoGP insights & coverage? Paddock Pass is pretty good, OMG is maybe a touch better (who doesn't love Keith?), but- clearly- Crash has better (more considered?) individual concepts- well shared. Jes' sayin'- DON'T let it go to your head's 'r nuthin'!!!
I love OMG but Crash has three speakers who can carry the show. OMG has 3 speakers usually but normal Keith and the guest are the only two with valuable commentary. I give crash the edge.
I think the Yamaha KTM and Aprilia manufacturers will make big changes that will benefit their teams soon, BUT thinking of Honda scares me, think of their WSBK bikes, tons of money and years spent and they can’t buy a third place trophy.
I disagree? I think MM93 is the best of the best- without a doubt. No one has come close to MM93 when it comes to exciting, unexpected races with tremendous outcomes (on a year old bike, bladdy, bladdy...) Thank God that his shoelaces weren't untied, the sun wasn't in his eyes. The Ducati play? WOW!
This has been a great season but Marc vs Pecco for 2025 & 2026 will be awesome. If Marc can win another championship or two he has to be considered as the GOAT. Even over Rossi/Agostini/Hailwood. If Pecco can beat Marc for the championship (and win in 2024), that would be 4 or 5 championships in 5 years. He would have to be considered among the "second-tier" greats like Lawson and Doohan. But neither of those riders had a teammate on equal machinery like Pecco will have with Marquez, so I would actually rate Pecco above them. But that hypothetical is 2-1/2 years from now!
Pecco is the real deal but Marquez is the fastest man ever on 2 wheels. I'll be genuinely surprised if Pecco can beat him on equal machinery over a season.
