Will Ducati Think of Marc Marquez as Francesco Bagnaia’s 2025 Teammate?
Ducati acknowledges that Marc Marquez is in contention for a 2025 factory seat.
Having switched from Repsol Honda to Gresini Ducati for this season, Marquez showed promising progress during his debut race weekend at the Qatar MotoGP.
Marquez’s arrival at Ducati has sparked speculation about who will join Francesco Bagnaia as his teammate in red next year.
“Marquez could certainly be in the running to partner with Pecco,” stated Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi in an interview with AS.
“However, we are not in a rush. The timeline for this decision is uncertain,” Tardozzi added. “Marquez is undoubtedly a formidable champion.”
Both the current incumbent, Enea Bastianini, and Pramac’s Jorge Martin, who are considered the main contenders, will see their contracts expire at the end of this season.
This allows Ducati the opportunity to make a fresh selection to complement Bagnaia, who has secured a longer-term contract.
Choosing Marquez would represent a significant leap to the most advanced version of the Desmosedici, currently the premier bike in MotoGP, providing him with the ideal tools to further enhance his illustrious career.
Impressing his Ducati superiors with a fourth-place finish in Qatar, Marquez received praise from team manager Tardozzi.
“Smart move,” Tardozzi remarked. “He did exactly what was needed.”
“Marc will find himself in the positions where races are decided,” Tardozzi continued. “He’s a rider capable of winning races and potentially contending for the championship.”
While Marquez showed his prowess, there is no denying that Bagnaia remains Ducati’s top rider – and a standout in MotoGP – following his victory in the Qatar opener.
“Pecco has been exceptional,” Tardozzi praised the reigning champion.
“On Saturday, he struggled with chatter, a consequence of being in traffic and turbulent slipstreams, which elevates front tire temperatures,” Tardozzi explained. “It’s crucial to lead from the start, and on Saturday night, he made it clear he would take the lead and dominate, as he did.”
However, stealing the spotlight in Qatar last weekend was MotoGP rookie Pedro Acosta.
Finishing in ninth place, Acosta notably overtook Marquez in an impressive debut.
“Acosta is a future champion, but he requires more time,” Tardozzi commented.
“In this race, he made the mistake of pushing too hard, wearing the tires more than necessary,” Tardozzi explained. “It’s due to his lack of experience with this bike and these tires.”
“As the season progresses, Acosta will be a podium contender,” Tardozzi predicted.
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