Ducati dismisses Valentino Rossi’s influence on Bagnaia-Marquez rivalry

Ducati believes Rossi’s history with Marquez will not affect Bagnaia’s mindset.

Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team and Marc Marquez of Ducati Lenovo Team attend the MotoGP launch party at One Bangkok mall in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 9, 2025. Photo by Anusak Laowilas/Nur

By Randy Ahmad and Yuni Utomo

Ducati is confident that Valentino Rossi’s past rivalry with Marc Marquez will not impact Francesco Bagnaia’s relationship with his new teammate. Despite concerns that Rossi’s influence could create tension, Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi insists that Bagnaia thinks independently and will not be swayed by his mentor’s history with Marquez.

Bagnaia and Marquez will form Ducati’s factory team lineup for the 2025 MotoGP season, a partnership that has already sparked speculation about potential friction. Both riders are multiple-time world champions and are accustomed to being the number-one rider in their teams. However, the external factor of Rossi’s long-standing feud with Marquez has raised questions about how their partnership will unfold.

Bagnaia’s strong ties to Valentino Rossi

Bagnaia has a close relationship with Rossi, having developed under the Italian legend’s guidance from an early age. As a product of Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy, Bagnaia honed his skills under the mentorship of the nine-time world champion. He also began his Moto3 and Moto2 career with Rossi’s VR46 team and has frequently been seen spending time with his mentor outside the race track.

This deep connection has led some to believe that Bagnaia may be particularly motivated to outperform Marquez, given his mentor’s history with the Spanish rider.

Rossi and Marquez’s heated rivalry

Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have had one of MotoGP’s most infamous rivalries. Their clashes began in 2015 at the Sepang Grand Prix, where an intense on-track battle escalated into a long-running feud. The tension between the two continued in subsequent seasons, and despite Rossi’s retirement in 2021, their relationship has never fully recovered.

Given this history, some believe that Rossi’s presence in Bagnaia’s corner could add another layer of intensity to the dynamic between the Ducati teammates. However, Ducati has dismissed these concerns.

Ducati confident in Bagnaia’s independence

Ducati sporting director Davide Tardozzi firmly believes that Rossi’s influence will not play a role in Bagnaia’s relationship with Marquez. According to Tardozzi, Bagnaia is his own person and does not let external opinions dictate his actions.

"Not at all, because Pecco thinks for himself," Tardozzi told Motosan. "I know very well that within the VR46 group, Pecco says what he thinks and not what others want to hear."

"Valentino and the people close to him have their own ideas, and Pecco shares some of them, but not all of them. He has his own wisdom and follows his own ideas," he added.

This statement reinforces the idea that while Bagnaia respects Rossi, his approach to racing will not be dictated by past rivalries.

The Bagnaia-Marquez rivalry begins in Thailand

The competitive dynamic between Bagnaia and Marquez will be tested from the very first race of the 2025 MotoGP season. The season opener takes place at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, from February 28 to March 2.

Marquez has already emphasized that his collaboration with Bagnaia will be professional and that both riders are mature enough to handle the pressure. Ducati will be hoping that their star duo can coexist and deliver strong results rather than letting past tensions impact their title bid.

With the MotoGP season about to begin, all eyes will be on Ducati’s new powerhouse pairing and whether they can work together—or if a fierce rivalry will emerge on the track.

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