Francesco Bagnaia has responded to comments from his new teammate Marc Marquez, where the six-time MotoGP champion suggested Bagnaia would begin the 2025 season with a higher “status” in the factory Ducati team. Marquez referred to Bagnaia as the team’s “reference point,” given his two MotoGP world championships and his role in leading Ducati to its current dominance.
However, Bagnaia, who narrowly missed out on securing his third consecutive title this season—falling just ten points behind champion Jorge Martin—believes that any form of hierarchy within the team will naturally evolve throughout the season based on championship performance.
Marquez Recognizes Bagnaia’s Leadership
Marquez has acknowledged that Bagnaia will start the year as Ducati’s leader, stating:
“Logically, there has to be a hierarchy, and Pecco should be the decision-maker.
“Pecco has delivered two world titles for Ducati, and the team won 11 races last year. Logically, he needs to lead during the preseason and the first few races.
“My goal is to close the gap with him because he’s the benchmark, the rider who helped Ducati return to the top. He’s incredibly fast, and I’ll be working hard to learn and get closer to his level.”
Bagnaia Insists on Equal Standing at the Start
Bagnaia, speaking at the ‘Campioni in Festa’ celebration in Bologna, downplayed the notion of fixed roles within the team, emphasizing that all riders should start as equals. He explained:
“I believe there is no ‘number one’ within a team, nor should there be. The season always starts fresh, with every rider having an equal voice and opportunity.
“Things naturally evolve over time as the championship progresses. If one rider leads the standings while the other falls behind, then yes, the focus shifts toward supporting the leader.
“Marc is an incredibly smart rider. He’s already adapted to our working style. During the Barcelona test, we collaborated well, and if we keep working like this, we’re heading in the right direction.”
Strong Test Results Set the Tone for 2025
Both riders showcased promising form during the Barcelona test, finishing third and fourth fastest on the prototype GP25 bike. Bagnaia praised the decision to test at Barcelona instead of Valencia, which was initially planned but later canceled.
“Barcelona offered better conditions for testing,” Bagnaia noted. “The circuit combines one of the highest top speeds in the championship with low grip, making it ideal for evaluating multiple aspects of the bike.”
Bagnaia and Marquez worked closely during testing, quickly identifying areas for improvement and sharing feedback with engineers.
Collaborative Effort for the Future
“Marc and I had similar impressions of the bike, which helped us pinpoint what worked well and what needed improvement. This made it easier for our engineers and Gigi Dall’Igna to map out the direction for the upcoming Sepang test,” Bagnaia added.
The first official Sepang test is scheduled for February 5–7, 2025, where the two riders will continue refining Ducati’s GP25 machine. With both Marquez and Bagnaia aligned and motivated, Ducati looks primed for another dominant season in MotoGP.
