Double MotoGP world champion Pecco Bagnaia says being Marc Marquez’s Ducati team-mate in 2025 has “stunned me” for a way “constructive” it has been for him.
Marc Marquez brought about a stir within the rider market final 12 months when he publicly turned down a seat with the Pramac Ducati squad for 2025, demanding both a works bike at Gresini or the manufacturing facility staff.
Ducati relented and signed him to its manufacturing facility squad, forcing it right into a U-turn on its authentic choice to advertise 2024 world champion Jorge Martin.
With Marquez entering into Pecco Bagnaia’s yard, fireworks have been anticipated between the pair.
Nonetheless, Bagnaia has largely struggled to match Marquez in 2025, with the latter a runaway title winner whereas his team-mate has scored simply two grands prix victories in comparison with the 11 he managed final 12 months.
As Bagnaia’s struggles have gone on this season, a lot has been made concerning the psychological impact being Marquez’s team-mate has had on him.
Talking in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Bagnaia set the document straight.
“At first, I used to be just a little fearful,” he began.
“He all the time stated he put sticks within the wheels even of his team-mates.
“As an alternative, it has stunned me. Experiencing him as a team-mate has been very constructive.
“In Japan, we went to a karaoke bar, ingesting sake [after Marquez won his seventh world title]. It was enjoyable.
“He is without doubt one of the strongest riders in historical past; lately, he has been dominant. You possibly can solely be taught from Marc.”
Marquez might be absent from the upcoming Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix, after struggling a proper shoulder damage in a lap one tangle with Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia.
He’ll changed by Ducati check rider Michele Pirro, although solely at current for the Australian Grand Prix.
Bagnaia appeared to make a breakthrough along with his season in Japan, when he swept the weekend on a motorcycle that includes varied GP24 components that returned the arrogance he’d been lacking.
However at Mandalika, he plummeted down the order once more and suffered two non-scores, with Bagnaia at a complete loss to elucidate what went improper.
