When it🌟 was put to the reigning MotoGP world champion that the injured Tito Rabat was being replaced by 22-year old Christophe Ponsson in the Reale Avintia Ducati squad, Marc Marquez simply replied, ‘Who?’

Ponsson, a former World Superbike rider who cu🔯rrently plies his trade in the Spanish Superbike championship, will have his first experience on꧟ a MotoGP machine at Misano on Friday morning, something that doesn’t sit easily with a number of the class’ leading names.

Aleix Espargaro was one those, believing the Frenchman’s necessary adaption to Michelin tyres, carbon brakes and added horsepower in just four free practice ses☂sions, a 15-minute qualifying shootout and Sunday's morning warm-up will be too much to be competitive.

“For sure I say many times in the past: MotoGP is a super dif♔ficult class,” said the Aprilia rider. “For me we cannot give a MotoGP bike to whoever because we are together it's just corner one [before he loses touch]. For him it will be super difficult to be competitive in just three sessions.

“But it's enough to create a disaster with carbon brakes, with almost 300 horsepower, also maybe a new track for him. It would be better to have a sp🌺ecial licence, sincerely.”

When Marquez an♋d Valentino Rossi were asked about Ponsson’s credentials in the official press conference, the Repsol Honda man said, “Who?

“I didn'ꦫt know there was another rider in the place of Tito. I don't know him, but we already said in the past, toꦑ be in a MotoGP race, you need to have a minimum level or minimum career.

“To arrive in MotoGP because of money is not the way. We are in the best championship of 🔴the world. I know that some riders need to arrive like this, b🐭ut yeah, it's not safe, sure. But we will see.”

Rossi added, “I also don't know him. So riding a MotoGP bike for th🌜e first time on a race weekend is for me not a great idea. Because the brakes, but also the tyres… Maybe it's not very safe. We need to keep attention. But I don't know him, maybe he's good and fast. We have to see.”

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow offered a different perspective, however. “I’m always in two minds, because I think it’s great to give people opportunities in life, in sport, in this paddock,” said the Englishman, before positing: “So why not have a new guy ride the𒉰 bike?

“But as we know if you’ve not even raced for a year, or so, you can make mistakes. I don’t know the guy, I’ve never met the guy, I hope he has a fantastic wee🃏kend. I’m sure this guy has enough talent to ride a motorcycle at a good level.”

Full-time rider Xavier Simeon will now ride a Ducati GP17 in Rabat’s absence, while Ponsson will take over the Bel🐻gian’s GP16 for this weekend.