MotoGP, Marc Marquez: "At Ducati, we need Pecco Bagnaia to get back to his best."

Ducati's 2025 season will go down in history as one of the most contrasting chapters ever experienced by the factory team. On one hand, Marc Marquez dominated the category, securing a seventh world championship title, winning 25 of the 36 races contested (sprints and Grands Prix combined), and restoring a level of dominance to the red team that they had never known, not even during the Stoner era…

… But on the other hand, Francis Bagnaia experienced the worst season of his career at Ducati A season of errors, crashes, rare moments of brilliance, and inconsistency that's hard to explain for a two-time MotoGP world champion (2022–2023). A season bad enough to crack, for the first time, his status as a pillar of the Italian project.

A situation that is even causing concern Marc Marquez who rushed to his teammate's aid, stating that bagnaia remains essential to the future of Ducati.

At the end of his triumphant season, when interviewed by MotoGP.com, Marquez delivered a surprisingly protective speech towards bagnaia, almost strategic:

« We need Pecco to get back to his best because He is extremely sensitive on the motorcycleand it will therefore be very useful to us in the future »

The Spaniard insists: despite the catastrophic results, bagnaia has not lost its speed.

« For me, Pecco still has the speed He demonstrated this during certain tests and races. »

Then he mentions Motegi, the only weekend where bagnaia seemed to become Pecco :

« At the Motegi Grand Prix, he scored 37 points, and despite my efforts, I couldn't catch up with him. Sometimes, two months is enough to reset everything. »

Marc Marquez: “ December and January will be the perfect time for Pecco Bagnaia to reset everything. »

According to MarquezWinter will be decisive: December and January will be the ideal time for Pecco to reset everything and starting from scratch during the tests in Malaysia. »*

Behind these words lies a simple truth: Ducati cannot afford to have only one high-performing driver in 2026, especially against Aprilia who is rising, KTM that clings on, and a Yamaha V4 who is coming.

This year was supposed to be the year of the duel of the century: Marquez vs BagnaiaThe absolute benchmark against the reigning champion. It turned into a monologue.

bagnaia He suffered numerous falls, often while pushing himself to the limit, sometimes in seemingly innocuous situations. He himself admitted to having lost his bearings, to the point of seeking outside help.

This help came from another Ducati champion: Casey StonerFor a few weeks, the Australian seemed to have recovered Pecco on rails… before the spiral starts again.

Result: seven abandonments in the race, disastrous sprints, and a fifth place final in the championship — a chasm behind his crowned teammate.

The most surprising thing about this chaos is the clan's reaction. MarquezRather than attacking his internal rival, Marc chose to help him.

bagnaia He acknowledged this mid-season: Marquez He supported him, guided him technically, and sometimes even psychologically. A complete turnaround, considering the tension between the two men in 2024.

The fact that bagnaia had to request the combined assistance of Marquez et Stoner illustrates how broken his confidence was.

And a brutal but obvious truth emerges: Pecco 2025 was no longer the champion of 2022/2023. Ducati cannot afford for this to continue in 2026.

Car Marquez needs a bagnaia strong: why? Because internally, Ducati He is worried. Desmosedici seems more difficult to exploit. Aprilia sent a terrifying signal to Valencia: 1-2 on tries, technical dominance, increased consistency. KTM It is restructuring but making progress in aerodynamics. Yamaha arrives with a V4 that many consider a generational leap. Honda progresses constantly.

Marquez He knows: he will not be able to contain the competition alone. bagnaia, very sensitive to fine adjustments, can offer to Ducati information and technical guidance that even Marc cannot provide.

Et Marc Marquez He said it clearly: It will be very useful to us in the future.2026 will be the turning point for bagnaia… and for Ducati.

For Marquez, the equation is simple: if bagnaia returns to its level, Ducati will have two headliners capable of defending a title in an era where Aprilia 2026 could become the new Ducati 2022.

Si bagnaia If he remains in doubt, he will quickly find himself in the same situation as Dovizioso In 2020: a champion who went from being a central figure to a secondary option. The ball is in his court. MarquezHe, however, extended his hand. Pecco must now rebuild.