TNT Sports MotoGP pundits predict that the 2025 factory Ducati lineup of Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia will be a “massive rivalry” throughout the 2025 season.
The Spaniard joins the team after spending one year with satellite team Gresini Racing. He accumulated 20 podiums and won three grand prix wins throughout the season.
Now that Marquez is back at a factory team, this time with Ducati after spending several years with Repsol Honda, the pundits at TNT Sports expect fireworks throughout 2025.
Former MotoGP rider Michael Laverty believes Marquez will try to “control” the Ducati garage in his desired direction.
“Pecco is a double world champion and has been in command of the garage for the past couple of years.
“All of sudden, this massive [thorn] in his side has appeared. Marquez will want to control the Ducati garage.”
TNT Sports presenter Suzi Perry added: “Marc has played nice with Pecco [Bagnaia], in press conference and on track. That’s not how it’s going to go, next year…”
Former WorldSBK champion Sylvain Guintoli refuted any possibility of a strong working relationship between them.
“It’s not going to happen. It will be a massive rivalry,” the Frenchman said.
“The only advantage of Pecco not having the #1 next year is that, if he gets beaten by Marc, he won’t lose the #1 to his teammate!”
Two-time WorldSBK champion Neil Hodgson believes Marquez could be a real threat after his successful campaign on a year-old bike.
“To put it into perspective, Marquez on the year-old Ducati has had 20 podiums.
“The other riders on the 2023 Ducati – Alex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio di Giannantonio – between them amassed only two podiums.”
Marc Marquez appreciates Ducatis working “method” after first GP25 test
Marquez revealed to Motorsport Ducati’s working “method” after trying out the GP25 for the first time at the end of season test in Barcelona.
The Spaniard visited Bologna Panigale (Ducati headquarters) to meet key personnel and understand the team’s ethos.
“The first day with the factory team is always shocking, because there are so many new people to meet on the first day of work,.”
“But above all I liked the method so much. In competitions it is done like this: action, reaction, action reaction. And that’s what I saw in Ducati.
“I started to understand why they came to win everything. I fought against them for years and they made an incredible bike.
“Gigi Dall’Igna is in charge, but there are a lot of people behind who work and as a team it’s wonderful.
“I was already there [Ducati HQ] last year, because this year I had great support from Ducati,” he noted.
“I was in Ducati to prepare well for 2025, to understand the method to understand what I will find on the race weekend.”
