Pecco Bagnaia’s Subtle Warning to Ducati: The Marc Marquez Factor and Its Potential Impact on Team Dynamics

Pecco Bagnaia's remark carries significant implications for Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia was subtly suggesting to the management about the 'atmosphere'.

Francesco Bagnaia has teamed up with two different riders in the official Ducati squad and has usually outperformed both.

Bagnaia secured titles in both 2022 and 2023, partly due to his skill in shaping the Ducati Lenovo Team to fit his needs, fostering a supportive atmosphere that enabled him to stay calm and focused.

Bagnaia illustrated how the collaboration and atmosphere functioned with his triumph in the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend.

"The current mood within the Ducati Lenovo Team is amazing," Bagnaia commented when questioned about the team's atmosphere following his win in Austria.

"To tell the truth, we are currently experiencing one of our greatest periods; the team is exceptional. We are unified as a single team, collaborating seamlessly."

"I constantly ask Enea for numerous things each day, and our collaboration is incredible. Whenever I need to test something but lack the time, he takes care of it, and it benefits both of us equally."

During the session in Austria, I inquired about the front tire he was testing.

“I believe that having this connection is incredibly valuable and beneficial for us.”

"During the race, you need to focus on your own performance, compete hard, and aim for victory."

"However, both outside and during the sessions, it's beneficial to maintain unity and work on progress collectively."

Bagnaia was signaling to Ducati

Certainly, Bagnaia's extensive praise for the collaboration shown by the engineering teams in both parts of the factory Ducati garage and his teammate, Enea Bastianini, is fundamentally accurate. For instance, Bagnaia mentioned in Friday's session at the Austrian Grand Prix that he had asked Bastianini earlier that day about his experience with the hard-compound front tire.

Bagnaia mentioned to MotoGP.com that practice was the sole opportunity for him to attempt the challenging front.

“I inquired about his feelings. He mentioned that overall he felt fine, but he needed to exercise more patience on the left side. Frankly, I didn't sense much confidence in his expression, so I opted to stick with the medium.”

It's evident that Bagnaia gained from this brief exchange with his teammate on Friday. The hard-compound front tire proved to be a poor selection in Austria, leading to several crashes that day.

It is clear that Ducati's present work atmosphere is producing highly favorable outcomes. Bagnaia holds a five-point lead at the top of the riders' standings over Jorge Martin from Pramac Ducati, with Bastianini in third place.

Ducati firmly holds the lead in the manufacturers' rankings, and the official team is also ahead in the teams' standings. Introducing changes in such a successful setting doesn't seem logical from a competitive standpoint.

It’s completely logical, given that the disruptive force here is Marc Marquez, who is widely considered one of the greatest motorcyclists ever. Marquez is the one who delayed Ducati's dominance by at least a few years.

Marquez, an eight-time World Champion, remains a competitive rider capable of securing another title if he has the proper machinery. Achieving a ninth championship would tie him with Valentino Rossi, while a tenth would place him at the pinnacle of the premier class title rankings.

A two-year deal might enable him to secure his 10th championship with Ducati, an achievement that likely holds significant promotional value in the eyes of Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali.

Domenicali, who has an engineering background, is likely capable of comprehending the insights shared by Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna regarding Marquez’s performance data and skills. Similarly, he can probably grasp the explanations from Marquez’s Gresini team leader, Frankie Carchedi, about Marquez’s working methods.

Moreover, considering how Marquez's overwhelming success on the Desmosedici is still vividly remembered, the idea of him joining KTM or Aprilia likely raised concerns for Domenicali. By retaining him, at least he won't be able to win championships for a rival team, correct?

Most likely, but at what price? This is the question Bagnaia is pondering.

It's clear why the three-time World Champion is worried: a quick review of the recent performance of Repsol Honda, HRC, and the Honda RC213V reveals a trend. The team, the manufacturer, and the motorcycle have been increasingly tailored to enhance the capabilities of a single rider, possibly at the expense of others.

Since joining Repsol Honda in 2013, Marquez's presence led to Dani Pedrosa transitioning from a consistent title contender since 2010 to firmly taking on the role of the second rider by mid-2014.

Following Pedrosa's retirement at the close of 2018, Jorge Lorenzo attempted to find success with the RC213V but ultimately fell short and retired after just one season. Pol Espargaro had a more favorable performance compared to Lorenzo but, after two seasons, he moved back to KTM's satellite Tech3 team in 2023. Then Joan Mir joined Repsol Honda and, in the one-and-a-half seasons since, he has managed only one top-six finish (India 2023) amid persistent retirement rumors.

Luca Marini stepped in to take Marquez's place this year after the rider with the #93 decided to call it quits. Up to now, Marini has managed to earn just one point over the course of

It wouldn't be right to place all the blame for HRC's ongoing MotoGP issues on Marquez, as he's just a rider, not a designer. However, it's evident that Honda's development path was primarily aligned with Marquez's preferences.

It appears evident that as the RC213V evolved, it became increasingly challenging for Marquez's fellow Honda riders to handle.

The Ducati Desmosedici has gained recognition for its adaptability to many riders. In contrast, the RC213V has only achieved wins with four riders (Marquez, Pedrosa, Cal Crutchlow, Jack Miller) since 2013. However, since 2022, the Desmosedici has secured victories with seven different riders (Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi), or even eight if Alex Marquez's two Sprint wins last year are considered.

This motorcycle is user-friendly and versatile, appearing to be capable of being ridden to victory by nearly any MotoGP rider when the conditions are favorable.

Bagnaia worries about Marquez causing disturbances

Bagnaia's comments during the press conference were influenced by the overall environment, and he emphasized that preserving this environment is crucial, especially after Marquez takes Bastianini's place.

The impact of Marquez joining Ducati has already caused significant changes. Pramac has switched its allegiance to Yamaha, while Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi have moved over to Aprilia. Additionally, there will be a reduction in the number of factory-spec Ducati bikes on the track next year, with VR46 receiving just one 2025 Desmosedici instead of the two GP24s currently used by Pramac.

By 2025, Ducati appears less formidable. The team has fewer and less skilled riders due to the exits of Bezzecchi and Martin, and there are also fewer Ducati motorcycles on the grid.

Bagnaia hopes Marquez will join the team and that any disturbances will end. He wants Marquez to integrate smoothly and grasp his position within the team, similar to how Bastianini has done. Bagnaia desires the continuation of the collaboration that has led Ducati to excel in MotoGP, understanding that having the top motorcycle makes winning championships more attainable.

The essence of Bagnaia's commendation for Enea Bastianini and Ducati during the Austrian post-race press conference was a warning to Ducati: Marc Marquez should not be permitted to join the factory team next year and disrupt the supportive environment that Ducati has established for Bagnaia, enabling him to perform optimally and secure championships. The message also extended to Marquez: this is Bagnaia's team, and to thrive within it, one must adhere to its established ways, rather than personal preferences.

Only time will tell if Bagnaia’s message resonates with his new teammate. The crucial distinction between Marquez and riders like Bastianini or even Jack Miller, who preceded him, lies in their achievements. Marquez boasts six MotoGP championships, a feat neither Bastianini nor Miller have accomplished. Marquez knows what it takes to secure a premier class title, and a top-performing Francesco Bagnaia probably doesn't fit into that equation.

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