It is the rider number #18 the last piece of the puzzle for Team QJMOTOR GRESINI MOTO2, who for 2024 decided to gamble on a completely new and 100% Spanish speaking line up. The new arrival is none other than Manuel Gonzalez, a talented rider with a history in the WorldSSP class (and had won the WorldSSP300 back in 2019) and that in less than two seasons was able to show great speed also in Moto2 – as he finished very close to the podium positions on several occasions already. 

Gonzalez now hopes to make another step forward aboard the light-blue-liveried Kalex machine ran by Gresini Racing, in order to compete for top positions in the intermediate class. With Gonzalez and Arenas as standard bearers, Team QJMOTOR GRESINI Moto2 aims at returning to the status of reference team in the category in 2024. 

Here is the rider’s reaction on the move to Gresini Team in the intermediate class: ‘I can’t wait for the next season to begin! After two years with the same team, it will be a big change for me, a new experience. We will try to find a good feeling as soon as possible: it will be crucial to be competitive from the first round, that is my main goal. I will give my all and bring home the best possible result’.

Nadia Padovani Gresini and Luca Gresini:

– For the 2024 season we wanted a strong line-up, to bring the QJMOTOR GRESINI Moto2 back towards the top: this is why we decided to pair an experienced rider like Arenas, with a young athlete who is eager  to grow, and that’s exactly what we chose Manuel Gonzalez, another Spaniard, which was born in 2002. He has already shown his potential in Moto2 and we are sure that in Gresini he will find the right environment to best exploit it.

O conteúdo Manuel Gonzalez joins Gresini in Moto2 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

During the Indonesian Grand Prix, Nadia Padovani, the CEO and director of Gresini Racing, shared insights about the signing of Marc Márquez for the upcoming season, following his departure from Honda.

Speaking to GPOne.com, she began by emphasizing that their success wasn’t just about luck: ‘You have to seek out your fortune. If you demonstrate dedication and achieve results, it pays off. We are a close-knit family and we genuinely care for our riders. True professionalism is reflected in these nuances’.

She continued: ‘We made some strategic decisions, like signing Marc’s brother, Álex. However, I would never have asked him to speak to Marc. It’s evident that the brothers might have discussed it amongst themselves. Being mentally aligned with a team is crucial’.

Padovani also highlighted the importance of the motorcycle and the team behind it: ‘The bike isn’t the only factor. We have a team of professionals, from technicians to mechanics. If something wasn’t right, a rider of Marc’s caliber wouldn’t have joined us’.

Reflecting on Marc’s journey in MotoGP, she said: ‘Initially, I saw him as a spectator. He belongs to that generation of riders who are fiercely competitive. I remember his battles with Valentino Rossi. Such riders are rare, and I’ve witnessed his evolution over the years’.

Discussing the potential of winning the 2024 title with a MotoGP champion like Marc Márquez in their team, the Gresini’s leader expressed her optimism but also mentioned the challenges: ‘Of course, I’d love that. But it’s hard to predict. I regretted letting go of Fabio Di Giannantonio, a rider introduced to the world championship by my husband and who grew with us’.

She also touched upon the challenges of managing media speculations: ‘When the rumors started in Misano, we couldn’t confirm anything. There were so many variables at play. But once Honda terminated the contract, we could start making our moves’.

Concluding the interview, Nadia Padovani reminisced about the moment they signed the contract with Marc in Indonesia. With a broad smile, she said: ‘To grasp that moment, I asked him if it was real. I wanted to touch him to be sure! Even now, I think I haven’t fully grasped what has transpired’.

O conteúdo Nadia Padovani Still in shock After Signing Marc Márquez: ‘I can’t nelieve what’s happened!’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.