As the 2025 season turns into a nightmare for Pecco Bagnaia, dominated by his own teammate Marc Marquez, the two-time Ducati world champion wanted to set the record straight in La Gazzetta dello Sport. No, cohabitation with the Catalan rider is not an open war. Quite the opposite.
Pecco does not hide the fact that he had some fears about sharing the box Ducati with one of the most feared riders in the history of MotoGP. The arrival of Marquez in the official team, obtained at the cost of a denial of Ducati towards George Martin, had sown discord behind the scenes. But the Turin native was surprised:
« At first, I was a little worried. He always said he was putting obstacles in the way, even for his teammates.. On the contrary, it surprised me. Being around him as a teammate was very positive. »
Bagnaia goes even further by telling an unusual anecdote: “ In Japan, we went to a karaoke bar to drink sake. It was nice. »
The Italian thus shows that beyond the rivalry on the track, an unexpected complicity has been established. And to conclude with respect: " He is one of the strongest drivers in history. In recent years, he has dominated. We can only learn from Marc »
But this cordial understanding does not mask a more brutal reality: bagnaia is struggling, with only two wins this season, compared to 11 in 2024. Opposite, Marquez has already validated his ninth world title.
The shock in Indonesia with Marco Bezzecchi forced him to withdraw from the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix. He will be replaced — for Phillip Island at least — by Michele Pirro, test pilot Ducati.
As for Pecco bagnaia, he had briefly regained hope in Japan, with a victory regained thanks to a technical package "inspired" by the GP24. But in Mandalika, the relapse was brutal: no points scored, and a champion unable to explain his poor performances.
Ducati between marketing and science fiction: the Pecco Bagnaia-Marc Marquez duo in Tron mode
Despite this difficult time, Ducati Don't forget your image. The Bologna-based brand, a partner of Disney, took advantage of the release of the film Tron: Ares to organize a spectacular shoot in Misano with its two stars.
Bagnaia and Marquez, dressed in black leather, rode at night on the Marco Simoncelli circuit, aboard a Hypermotard 698 Mono RVE, under the spotlights and in a futuristic Tron-like atmosphere.
A high-impact promotional video, filmed before the Indonesian GP. Actress Greta Lee, the film's heroine, rides a Hypermotard 950 SP in the action scenes.
Operation Tron won't be enough to mask the cracks in the red house. The season MotoGP 2025 is the most unstable year since the post-Dovizioso era: a champion losing his bearings, a teammate galvanized and injured, a team divided over the hierarchy, all despite dominance on the scoreboard.
But if there is one constant, it is that Marc Marquez continues to dictate the tempo, on the dance floor, in the media… and even in sake bars.
