At Imola it was Team Gresini's turn to take the veil off its bikes, the iconic blue of which combined with a hint of black was presented to the public along with its lineup for 2025. Also present in MotoE with Ferrari and Finello, and in Moto 2 with Binder and Arenas, Team Gresini welcomes this year rookie Fermin Aldeguer who will join Alex Marquez in the box, in his third consecutive year with the team.
Both MotoGP riders will be riding the highly competitive GP24s, and while a future of growth and learning in the premier class lies ahead for Aldeguer, expectations in terms of results now rest on the shoulders of Alex Marquez. The legacy of his brother Marc, who led the colors of the Gresini team to the highest steps of the podium and the standings last season, will be a heavy burden for Alex, who is not afraid, however, of the challenge and responsibility of such a 'mission'.
Alex also had a chance to ride around the iconic Imola circuit in his car before the presentation.
Would it be nice to ride around it with MotoGP as well?
"Moving a few walls yes," Alex Marquez said, "the track is very nice, the kind where you have to have everything clear to go fast, I liked it and had fun!"
You said that you will face this season with more calm. Is it a matter of experience or will Marc's absence also contribute?
"Definitely being able to race with the same team for the third consecutive year gives you that balance to be able to face the season. You know the team well, and after a good end to the season you work with more serenity even during the winter break. Then it is clear that once we get on the track we can be more or less fast, but certainly last season taught me a lot. As Nadia said, I am the most experienced rider in the team and I will have to try to step up. I see myself capable of doing that and I think I have all the potential in this team to achieve that goal."
What will be the pros and cons of Marc's absence in the box?
"It's not like he's going that far! - joked the Spaniard - his box will be on the right or the left. Having Marc in the box has positives but also negatives. I refer for example to the pressure we had in the box at the beginning of last season in terms of expectations. They were really high, but he also brought us a lot of experience and I think from the first day he came into the box he was the leader, he made us understand a lot of things. What we learned from him and what he made me understand as a riding style is what we will have to try to exploit this season. As a team he has taken us a step forward."
Much has been said about the importance of the family character of this team and the spirit of Fausto Gresini.
"The season is very long, and there are moments when maybe strength is lacking or motivation drops after a result not at the level. In those moments this spirit gives us an extra push, we also do it for him, he is very present and what he created is still inside the team. It's a very nice thing, every podium and every race is dedicated to him, it's a way to remember him."
Knowing both the team and the bike well places high expectations on your shoulders for this 2025.
"Before starting a season it is always difficult to set expectations, partly because there are so many unknowns. You don't know what level your opponents will be at, or how much the other manufacturers have improved. That's normal, everyone wants to improve between seasons. We know what the GP24 is capable of, we saw it last year. Nadia said she would like a top 5 in every race, although it's clear that you don't just work for a top 5, we all work to win every race. In some weekends you will be faster, in others there will be problems, but that mentality of aspiring to the top is what we have to maintain."
The championship will start in Thailand, there are also some new rounds. What do you think of this calendar?
"I think this year's calendar is easier, compared to last year they split the longer trips at the beginning and end of the championship, so I think it was a better solution for everyone. Starting in Thailand will be different than a night race in Qatar, but it will still be a long season with 22 races, and we will go to Brno which is one of my favorite circuits, I was very happy to see it back on the calendar. As always though, consistency of results will make the difference in terms of the championship."
You will be team captain this year, you will have rookie Aldeguer by your side, is that a responsibility that weighs on you?
"I don't like the term 'captain,' but it's a normal thing. From the first moment they announced Fermin's arrival in early 2024, I've always said I like to see the arrival of a new generation of riders. I'm curious to see how he works, what he does to be fast. You can always learn from everyone, I learned from Marc and maybe I can learn something from him as well. However, it is clear that since he is a rookie, it will be mostly up to me to focus on results. An independent team needs it for its sponsors, it's a mission I enjoy and it gives me a lot of motivation."
In Barcelona you tested the GP24, how much better is it than the GP23?
"Hard to say with just one day of testing. It's a new bike so it's different, you can go fast right away and make a good pace and a good time attack, but to get the most out of it we'll have to work quietly, do some solid pre-season testing and understand the bike better. It's better yes, but how much we don't know yet."
Minus the two factory Ducatis, do you see Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli as your main rivals?
"I think there are a lot of rivals this year, everything is very open. I'm not speaking as Alex Marquez but as a motorcycling fan. There have been so many changes and it will be an interesting year. Seeing Bastianini on the KTM for example, as well as all the others who have changed colors this year. We for our part have learned lessons from 2024, we know what we have and we know what to do to make the most of it."