Max Verstappen and Marc Marquez, two of the most successful motorsport athletes of their generation, headlined last weekend's Honda Thanks Day event at Motegi where Honda celebrated its 2023 season.
The event marked Marquez's farewell to Honda as he prepares to join the Gresini Racing Ducati team for the 2024 MotoGP season.
But the atmosphere between the two champions was one of camaraderie and mutual respect, with the reigning Formula 1 world champion explaining the intricacies of an F1 steering wheel to his eight-time MotoGP world champion counterpart.
But Verstappen’s interest in MotoGP was equally fervent, the three-time F1 world champion expressing again in Japan his long-held desire to test a MotoGP machine.
While Marquez's move to Ducati signals a new chapter in his illustrious career, his legacy at Honda remains firmly etched in the annals of motorsport history.
His partnership with the Japanese manufacturer has produced some of the most memorable moments in MotoGP, and his departure will leave a void that will be difficult to fill.
