The distinction between Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia up to now within the 2025 MotoGP season has been stark, with the latter unable to complete higher than third this yr whereas Marquez has gained each races.
Why Bagnaia has been unable to problem his Ducati Lenovo teammate Marquez has largely been blamed by the Italian himself on a poor feeling with this yr’s manufacturing facility Ducati Desmosedici.
Such has been the extent of Bagnaia’s problem with this yr’s bike, he prompt after ending fourth within the Argentinian Grand Prix – the place he was crushed by each Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli on 2024 Desmosedicis, along with Marc Marquez on the GP25 – that from the subsequent race on the Circuit of the Americas on 28–30 March he might revert to the GP24.
Nonetheless, others imagine that the reason for Bagnaia’s deficit is just a distinction in potential between two riders.
“Frankie [Carchedi] has been telling me [that Marquez is going to win] for six months,” mentioned TNT Sports activities analyst Neil Hodgson after the Argentina race, the place Bagnaia completed 5.536 seconds behind his teammate.
“Clearly, Frankie was Marc’s crew chief final yr, so he noticed what an obstacle the 2023 Ducati was to the 2024; he mentioned it’s between, in his opinion – allowing for his opinion will likely be appropriate as a result of he’s received the info – 0.4 and 0.6 seconds per lap.
“He mentioned ‘When you put Marc on the identical bike as Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] he won’t be able to put a glove on him’.
“Why’s that? As a result of Marc’s a greater rider.”
Hodgson mentioned that this yr is equal to the 2014 MotoGP season, when Marquez gained 10 races in succession firstly of the season, and 13 of 18 in complete that season.
“[This is the Marc of 2014], as a result of in 2014 the Honda was one of the best bike – Marc was one of the best rider on one of the best bike.
“After that, the Honda didn’t enhance – all people else improved, so then all these victories, all these World Championships, all that success, that was Marc being the higher rider, not on one of the best bike.
“Then, clearly, after 2019, the accidents, after which we’ve ended up right here in 2025 the place, but once more, one of the best rider – Marc – is on one of the best bike.”
Fellow TNT Sports activities MotoGP analyst Michael Laverty added that Marquez is at the moment working in his “prime,” and that the Spaniard at his present degree is “unreal to look at”.
“It’s prime Marc Marquez,” Laverty mentioned.
“He’s reinvented himself by having to get the arm damaged, undergo the surgical procedures, rehabilitating.
“We all know that he set out his plan and he re-evaluated his profession, going again to the personal group, 1742736195 he’s received the manufacturing facility bike and so it’s good to see that it’s come full circle once more and he’s in a position to present his expertise, which have by no means been in query.
“Lots of people, haters, downers thought possibly he’s previous his greatest, however he’s proven us he’s nonetheless go a lot hearth in his stomach and it’s unreal to look at.”
