Former engineer Juan Martinez suggests that Pecco Bagnaia’s challenges at Ducati began when it was announced that Marc Marquez would join the team as his teammate for the 2025 MotoGP season. Ducati confirmed in June that the six-time MotoGP champion Marquez would move from Gresini to the factory team in 2025, forming a powerhouse lineup at Borgo Panigale featuring two riders who have won eight of the last ten titles combined.

While it was anticipated that Bagnaia and Marquez would be closely matched teammates this year, Marquez gained an advantage early on, leaving Bagnaia struggling with the 2025-spec Desmosedici bike. Despite many attributing Bagnaia’s current difficulties to discomfort with the “GP25,” Martinez contends that his issues began nearly 14 months ago.

“I believe Bagnaia started feeling the pressure of Marquez’s arrival when the signing was announced last year,” Martinez told Dazen. From that moment, questions about Marquez began to dominate interviews and Bagnaia’s management team felt the impact.

Martinez highlighted Marquez’s adaptability, explaining that he can quickly find speed on any bike thrown at him, whereas Bagnaia prefers machines tailored to his style. “Mark is used to constantly adapting to different bikes and setups, which enhances his ability to maximize performance under various conditions. This adaptability affects bike development, as riders like Marquez can work effectively regardless of changes, unlike those who are more particular or methodical,” Martinez added.

Bagnaia won the US Grand Prix in March after Marquez withdrew from that race and has since stood on the podium seven times out of 12 races. However, last year at GP24, Alex Marquez from Gresini outperformed Bagnaia significantly, with Pecco finishing third in the championship, 48 points behind Alex.

Martinez pointed out that Bagnaia’s championship position was the main flaw in an otherwise outstanding Ducati season, which saw 10 Grand Prix and all sprint race wins. “Last year with Alex Marquez and the GP24 bike, the situation was very stable, with no development changes. Yet, in Bagnaia’s case, the only criticism from Ducati’s management is that he’s not securing second place in the standings,” he explained.

“This is the only point of concern for Ducati. While their race wins seem effortless, not having Bagnaia as second is surprising for a team of Ducati’s caliber.”

Fan Take: This development is significant for racing enthusiasts because it sets up a thrilling new dynamic within Ducati, pitting a versatile veteran against a talented rider facing newfound challenges. The rivalry and bike development strategies stemming from this could reshape team tactics and influence the broader competition in MotoGP moving forward.