Pecco Bagnaia Surprised to Be Marc Marquez’s Teammate at Ducati, But Says It’s Been a Positive Experience
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| Pecco Bagnaia Surprised to Be Marc Marquez’s Teammate at Ducati, But Says It’s Been a Positive Experience. |
Double MotoGP world champion Pecco Bagnaia admitted he was surprised that being Marc Marquez’s teammate at the Ducati factory team in 2025 turned out to be a much more positive experience than he expected.
Marc Marquez made headlines in the rider market last year when he publicly rejected an offer to join the Pramac Ducati team for the 2025 season, insisting that he wanted a full factory bike—either with Gresini or the official Ducati team.
Eventually, Ducati gave in to his demands and signed Marquez to the factory squad, forcing the team to reverse its earlier plan to promote 2024 world champion Jorge Martin.
When Marquez joined Ducati, many expected sparks to fly between him and Bagnaia. But the reality has been quite the opposite.
This season, Bagnaia has struggled to match Marquez’s performance. The six-time MotoGP world champion has been dominant and is on track to secure the 2025 title, while Bagnaia has only managed two Grand Prix victories so far—down from 11 wins last season.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Bagnaia dismissed claims that having Marquez as a teammate had affected him psychologically.
“At first, I was a little worried,” Bagnaia said. “He used to say that he liked to mess with his teammates, but instead, it’s been the opposite. It’s actually been very positive. My experience working with him has been really enjoyable.”
Bagnaia also shared a fun moment they had together in Japan after Marquez clinched his seventh world title. “We went to a karaoke bar, drank sake, and had a good time. Marc is one of the strongest riders in history. In recent years, he’s been dominant. You can only learn from someone like him,” he added.
Meanwhile, Marquez will miss the upcoming Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix due to a right shoulder injury sustained in a first-lap crash with Marco Bezzecchi during the Indonesian round. Ducati’s test rider Michele Pirro will fill in for Marquez, though for now, only for the Australian Grand Prix.
Bagnaia seemed to make progress in Japan when he performed strongly on a bike fitted with several GP24 parts that helped him regain lost confidence. However, in Mandalika, he struggled again, dropping down the order and recording two DNFs.
“We tried many things, but for some reason, nothing clicked. It’s been a tough season, but I’m still pushing to find a solution,” Bagnaia admitted.
Although this season hasn’t gone as planned, the good relationship between Ducati’s star riders has become one of MotoGP’s most unexpected storylines. Instead of turning into bitter rivals, Bagnaia and Marquez have shown respect and teamwork both on and off the track.




















