Explained: How Marc Marquez is affecting the WorldSBK silly season

Marquez is set to choose between staying with Repsol Honda or moving to Gresini Ducati to join his b♐rother Alex.
With the latter thought to be the most realistic outcome, Marq🐻uez’s move could have a big impact on how the MotoGP and WorldSBK grids take♎ shape.
- Locatelli: Broken oil radiator puts 📖an end to “one of the best races of my life”
- Bassani: "I want to battle for the podium, not top five", Oettl under "pr൲essure”
If Marquez moves the first ripple effect would involve Johann Zarco, as the 💖soon♒-to-be Honda rider would swap LCR for the Repsol colours.
That would free Iker L𝔉ecuona, who is currently with Team HRC, to make a switch to LCR Hon♛da alongside Takaaki Nakagami who was recently retained for a seventh season with the team.
Marquez joining Ducati would be one of the biggest rider switches of all-time. The eight world champion would be catapulted straight back into con﷽tention for victories and possibly the champ👍ionship in 2024.
But it could have a big impact on race winner in WorldSBK Michael Rinaldi.&nbs🔴p;
Rinaldi, who took the fifth Superbike win of his career at last weekend’s Aragon round after getting the better of Toprak Razgatli⛦oglu and Jonathan Rea, is thought to be in contention for two seats.
One of those is at Motocors💮a Ducati should Axel Bassani complete his expected move to Kawasaki, but the other is Honda which is why Marquez could play a big role.
Moving to Honda would allow Rinaldi the chance to stay with a full factory team, however, Leon Camier admitted in Aragon that the Japanese brand would like 🐼to continue with their current lineꦛ-up of Lecuona and Xavi Vierge next year.
If Marquez stays put in MotoGP then Rinaldi is more l📖ikely to see his future remain wit✃h Ducati.
But if Marquez completes a shock switch to Du𓆉cati, Rinaldi will then become the prime focus for Team HRC.