Marc Marquez Hints at Ducati Team Hierarchy: Who’s Calling the Shots?
Marc Marquez shares insights on Ducati’s team dynamics after the Barcelona test. Could a clear number one rider emerge for the 2025 MotoGP season?
Marc Marquez began his Ducati journey at MotoGP’s post-season test in Barcelona, stepping into a garage that has dominated the championship in recent years. Reflecting on his first day, the eight-time world champion described the experience as “shocking,” not because of the challenges but due to the sheer scale and efficiency of the operation.
“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,” Marquez said. “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.”
Joining the team that has been shaping MotoGP in recent history, he explained that it’s the cohesive team structure behind the facade that made him “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 as a team. It’s wonderful.”
Ahead of Ducati’s season-end festivities “Campioni di Festa”, the Spaniard paid the team’s headquarter in Borgo Panigale a visit.
“I was already there once last year. I [went there] to prepare well for 2025, to understand the method, to understand what I will find on the race weekend.”
“I arrive in a garage that has won a lot in recent years and I arrive with a clear reference inside, which is Pecco, who won two titles and fought for the third until the end,” Marquez stated. “The quality on my part is there, but I have to adapt quickly to this new team.”
“Compared to the GP23 [he rode at Gresini], there was a leap [in performance to the 2025 bike] but we have to find out how well it is working on different tracks. But we always have 2025 in mind so that, as a Ducati team, we can take another step forward.”
“If Pecco doesn’t win, I’ll win. If I don’t win, Pecco wins. That’s the team’s goal. In the end, that’s what Ducati is looking for. Either one rider wins, or the other wins. In the end, it is important to bring the title home.”
While confident he can make the difference later on, Marquez acknowledged that Bagnaia’s experience and success with the team establish him as the clear benchmark for “at least the preseason and the first few races”.
“Logically, he is the reference, because he has been here for several years and has won a lot. We will try to give 100%, I will have to get used to the new working method of the factory team, and we will try to give 100%.”
As the Spaniard “will have to get used to the new way of working method of the factory team”, the 2025 preseason is more important than just that. With MotoGP introducing new regulations for the 2027 season, an engine freeze starting at the beginning of the 2025 season is looming over the manufacturers.
“This pre-season, above all, is very important because in 2025 and 2026 the engines will be the same. If you make a mistake in the engine design for 2025, you will also carry over the problems in 2026, so it is very important,” Marquez explained.
MotoGP Approves Engine Freeze Ahead of 2027 850cc Era
MotoGP will freeze engine development for 2025 and 2026 to control costs and level the playing field ahead of the…
However, before the full-on preparation for the upcoming season will start, the Spaniard wants to take a step back “to recover from the [2024] season”.
“The months off can be long or short, it depends on how you approach it. The last part of the season with the Asian tour […] gave the body little rest, so it’s important to recover from the season.”
“Once we get to February, the everything is very close together. So you have to rest, enjoy Christmas with family and friends and look for a holiday that helps you to disconnect from MotoGP for a bit.”
