The announcement of Marc Marquez joining Ducati for the 2025 season has significantly unsettled reigning MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia, intensifying tensions within the team. The arrival of Marquez, fresh off a dominant run with Gresini, challenges Bagnaia’s position and pressures him amid a shifting dynamic that is already impacting performances on and off the track.
According to former MotoGP engineer Juan Martinez, Bagnaia’s difficulties began immediately after the signing was revealed on June 2, 2024. Martinez emphasizes that the psychological strain on Bagnaia grew as media and team focus shifted almost exclusively toward Marquez’s future with Ducati. The presence of two riders who collectively hold eight of the last ten MotoGP titles promises fierce competition but has also created a challenging environment for Bagnaia.
“Pecco started feeling the impact the moment Marc’s signing was announced. From that point, every interview turned into a question about Marc and his future. That’s when Pecco’s real management challenge began.”
—Juan Martinez, Former MotoGP Engineer
The Psychological and Performance Struggles Before the Season Began
Martinez suggests that just contemplating sharing the garage with a rider of Marquez’s caliber has thrown Bagnaia into a cycle of self-doubt, where constant comparisons weigh heavily. This tension is evident not only in Bagnaia’s mindset but also in Ducati’s technical approach.
Marquez’s extraordinary adaptability allows him to extract peak performance under varying conditions, making him a highly versatile competitor. Martinez explains this as a critical factor in Ducati’s development strategy struggles.
“Marc is used to constant change — chassis, aerodynamics, whatever. He always gets the most out of it,”
—Juan Martinez, Former MotoGP Engineer
Conversely, Bagnaia favors a meticulous, methodical riding style that demands a bike finely tuned to his preferences. This contrast complicates Ducati’s task, as engineers grapple to design a machine that satisfies two vastly different riding demands.
“With a rider like Marc Marquez, who can perform in all conditions, it’s harder to set a clear development direction for the bike,”
—Juan Martinez, Former MotoGP Engineer
Bagnaia’s Ongoing Challenges with the GP25 and Ducati’s Season Performance
The latest Desmosedici GP25 bike has proven difficult for Bagnaia to master, limiting his ability to consistently perform at the highest level. Though he managed a victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas, his general inconsistency has left him trailing behind Alex Marquez and, significantly, behind Marc, who is leading the championship by a wide margin.
While Ducati is enjoying an exceptional 2025 season overall, Bagnaia’s inability to secure a solid second place is seen by Martinez as the lone weak spot in an otherwise dominant campaign. The team’s technical staff find themselves divided between optimizing the bike for Bagnaia’s style or favoring Marquez’s adaptability, a dilemma that has yet to be resolved.
How Marc Marquez’s Presence Has Shifted Team Dynamics
Insiders within the Ducati team confirm that Marquez’s strong personality and unwavering performance have altered the internal atmosphere significantly. His arrival has attracted considerable attention, which has disrupted established routines and relationships within the garage.
“Marc attracts attention, and that changes everything inside the garage,”
—Ducati Insider, Crash.net
This shift has left Bagnaia struggling not only against his new teammate but also against satellite rider Alex Marquez, who has steadily become a serious contender thanks to his consistent performance with the year-old GP24 bike.
Future Prospects and the Challenge of Reclaiming Dominance
As the 2025 season progresses through demanding circuits like Phillip Island and Valencia, where Bagnaia has historically performed well, opportunities are still available for him to mount a comeback. However, Martinez highlights that the issue goes beyond mere results on race day.
“Pecco needs to find his calm again — and a bike that fits him.”
—Juan Martinez, Former MotoGP Engineer
Looking forward, the upcoming 2027 regulation changes combined with the switch to Pirelli tires could disrupt the existing competitive balance, offering a potential reset. Nevertheless, the critical question remains whether Bagnaia can overcome the pressure of Marquez’s arrival and reestablish himself as the undisputed leader within Ducati.
The spotlight remains fixed on the Ducati garage as the MotoGP season unfolds. Observers anticipate whether Bagnaia will reclaim his throne or if Marquez will cement his status as the new dominant force, ensuring MotoGP’s championship battle will captivate fans well into the future.
