Paolo Simoncelli, owner of the Moto3 team SIC58 and father of the late Marco Simoncelli, claimed that Pecco Bagnaia underestimated Marc Marquez in 2025 because of misleading advice from Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP circle. Despite Bagnaia’s impressive achievements, including winning consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023 and securing 11 Grand Prix victories, he barely missed third place in the 2024 championship and fell to fifth in 2025.
While Marquez, Ducati’s new teammate, claimed his seventh MotoGP championship with 11 wins and 14 podium finishes, Bagnaia only managed two victories in a turbulent 2025 season. Many have speculated that Bagnaia’s struggles to adapt to the GP25 bike were due to the pressure of riding alongside Marquez, a notion both Bagnaia and Ducati have denied.
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Simoncelli suggested that Bagnaia’s underestimation of Marquez stemmed from the VR46 camp’s influence. Simoncelli explained that coming from Valentino Rossi’s circle, Bagnaia believed focusing on avoiding crashes would be enough to compete, failing to recognize Marquez’s exceptional racing abilities. This misjudgment was costly, as Marquez proved to be a formidable rival.
The signing of Marquez by Ducati in 2025 reportedly upset Bagnaia’s VR46 group, given the longstanding feud between Marquez and Rossi that began in 2015. Simoncelli also expressed admiration for Marquez, comparing him to his late son Marco, praising Marquez’s determination and fighting spirit on the track.
Fan Take: This revelation sheds light on the complex dynamics within top racing teams and how personal alliances and rivalries can impact performance. For fans, it highlights the intense mental battles alongside physical ones that riders face, shaping the future competitiveness and drama in MotoGP.
