Ducati dismisses claims of Valentino Rossi influencing Bagnaia

Ducati denies concerns over Rossi’s role in Bagnaia’s rivalry with Marc Marquez.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team rides during the first day of the 2025 Thailand MotoGP pre-season test at Chang International Circuit on February 12, 2025, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo by Manan Vatsyayana/AFP

By Yuni Utomo and Randy Ahmad

Ducati has rejected speculation that Valentino Rossi could influence Francesco Bagnaia and create tension within the factory team as he prepares to compete alongside Marc Marquez in the MotoGP 2025 season. Rossi, who mentors Bagnaia through the VR46 Academy, remains a controversial figure in Marquez’s career, particularly due to their long-standing feud stemming from the infamous Sepang Clash in 2015.

As the reigning two-time world champion, Bagnaia has welcomed Marquez’s arrival at Ducati despite the history between his mentor and his new teammate. Concerns have arisen over whether Rossi’s involvement could affect the dynamic between the two riders, but Ducati’s team management has dismissed such claims.

Bagnaia makes independent decisions, says Ducati

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi emphasized that Bagnaia is an independent thinker and does not let external influences shape his approach to racing.

“Absolutely not, because Pecco thinks on his own,” Tardozzi told Crash. “I know very well that within the VR46 group, Pecco says what he thinks and not what others want to hear.”

He further clarified that while Bagnaia shares some ideas with Rossi and his close associates, he has developed his own strategy and vision for his career.

“Valentino and his close friends have their own ideas, and Pecco has some of the same ideas, but not all of them. He has his own considerations and follows his own ideas,” Tardozzi explained.

Bagnaia unfazed by Marquez’s media presence

With Marquez’s arrival at Ducati, some have suggested that Bagnaia might feel overshadowed by the eight-time world champion’s media and sponsor appeal. However, Tardozzi dismissed any notion of jealousy or concern on Bagnaia’s part.

“No. If Marc signs with another manufacturer, the media will also be interested in him,” said Tardozzi. “Pecco knows where he belongs at Ducati. He has a solid group around him, and he has the credibility of being a two-time MotoGP world champion.”

Tardozzi also reassured that Ducati remains committed to supporting Bagnaia’s championship ambitions and that Marquez’s presence would not diminish the team’s dedication to their reigning champion.

“He trusts us because he knows that we are doing everything possible for him and that Marc’s arrival will not take anything away from him,” Tardozzi added.

Strong partnership between Bagnaia and Marquez

Despite their competitive nature, Tardozzi believes that Bagnaia and Marquez have the potential to form one of the strongest partnerships in MotoGP history. Their shared strengths in braking and corner entry could make them a formidable duo for Ducati.

“What I liked was that during the Barcelona test in November, the feedback and answers they gave to the engineers were very similar,” Tardozzi noted. “That was without speaking to each other beforehand. And even though they don’t have exactly the same riding style, they are two riders who are very good at braking and entering corners.”

Bagnaia and Marquez have already been described as one of the most talented pairings in the history of MotoGP, raising expectations for Ducati’s performance in the upcoming season.

Ducati remains focused on title defense

While Ducati enters the MotoGP 2025 season as the team to beat, Tardozzi remains cautious about the increasing competition. He acknowledges that the team must continuously improve to stay ahead of the rivals they previously outperformed.

“Even though we are favorites, we respect all our rivals,” Tardozzi admitted. “And everything is at stake. We have to beat the riders who were better than us at the start of the season.”

Reflecting on Ducati’s recent dominance, Tardozzi emphasized the need for a fresh approach every season.

“We won in 2022, 2023, and 2024, but for 2025, we start from scratch,” he said. “As I said, the competition is getting tougher with the riders who were with us last year, and that will help them progress.”

As the season progresses, Ducati will need to carefully manage the dynamics between Bagnaia and Marquez while maintaining their competitive edge. With both riders aiming for the title, their ability to work together within the team will be crucial in determining Ducati’s success in MotoGP 2025.

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