Alex Marquez will remain with the Gresini Racing team for the 2024 MotoGP World Championship season after agreeing a new two-year deal with the Italian outfit.

The double Grand Prix World Champion joined the satellite Ducati outfit at the start of the season as a replacement for the factory-bound Enea Bastianini.

Arriving at Gresini following a less-than-sparkling three-year stint on Honda machinery, Marquez has nonetheless emerged as one of the year’s more surprising packages riding the more competitive year-old Ducati GP22.

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Indeed, Marquez has already notched up a handful of significant career landmarks, including a maiden MotoGP pole position in Argentina and a first victory in the MotoGP class during the most recent British MotoGP Sprint Race at Silverstone.

Currently ninth in the standings after nine events, Marquez’s new deal will cover the next two seasons, concluding at the end of the 2025 MotoGP season.

“I’m very happy to continue with the team. I’ve always expressed this desire of mine and when things go the right way it’s even easier to understand each other. 

“To continue together for the next season is key in order to keep growing with this bike, and with this team everything is going to be easier. 

“I would like to thank Nadia [Padovani - Team Principal] first and foremost, and then the whole team who made me feel at home from day one. We’ll keep growing and surprising.”

Having re-established itself as an independent effort following its split from Aprilia Racing, Gresini enjoyed one of the most successful campaigns in its storied history last season.

Scoring three wins with Bastianini, Padovani is delighted to have had the decision to sign the younger of the Marquez brothers vindicated.

“Alex is first of all a wonderful person and it was a pleasure to welcome him in our Gresini Family. The results speak for themselves and it was a logical step for us to continue together and raise the bar some more. 

“He already scored a race win and a pole position in his debut year with Ducati, showing he could battle with the best from the get-go. We will now try to find some continuity together in the next season. 

“I would like to thank the whole Ducati family as we’ll continue with them for the next two years; we already showed we are a good combination this year as well as in 2022… so the goal is to continue to excite and be excited.”

While the decision to retain Marquez was anticipated, there remains a big question mark over who will join him at Gresini Racing next season.

With Fabio di Giannantonio expected to depart after two seasons with the team, Moto2 title contender Tony Arbolino was installed as an early favourite to replace him. 

However, he is facing competition from fellow Italian Franco Morbidelli following confirmation he will be replaced by Alex Rins at Yamaha in 2024.