Ducati’s Headache: How to Control Marquez and Bagnaia in the Internal MotoGP Battle?

The 2025 MotoGP season has delivered incredible drama, and no storyline is more compelling than the intense dynamic between Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia inside the Ducati factory team. With Marquez leading the championship after 12 rounds and Bagnaia struggling, Ducati finds itself in a precarious situation. What was supposed to be a dream team has evolved into a tale of rivalry, frustration, and growing internal pressure.

🏁 Marquez Rises: From Honda Survivor to Ducati Alpha

When Marc Marquez signed with Ducati for the 2025 season, there was skepticism. Could the eight-time world champion return to form after years of injury and frustration with Honda? The answer, so far, is a resounding yes. Armed with the Ducati Desmosedici GP25, Marquez has surged to the top of the MotoGP 2025 standings with 171 points after a brilliant weekend at Le Mans, where he won the sprint race and finished second in the Grand Prix.

Even crashes at Jerez and Texas haven’t slowed his momentum. Marquez has proven not only that he still belongs in the title conversation, but that he may be the most dangerous rider on the grid once again. His aggressive style and ability to adapt have clicked seamlessly with the GP25, much to the surprise of those who doubted him.

💥 Bagnaia’s Struggles: The Champion Caught Off Guard

Meanwhile, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, the defending two-time world champion, is caught in a downward spiral. Despite years of experience on Ducati machinery and two titles under his belt, Bagnaia has failed to come to grips with the 2025 Desmosedici. After 12 races, he’s claimed just one victory—and that came only because Marquez crashed in Texas.

Bagnaia has been vocal about the front-end problems that have haunted him since preseason testing. “I can’t feel the front tire,” he admitted. “As soon as I brake hard into corners, I feel like the front will slide. It limits me enormously.” He even quipped, “Marc Marquez could ride a tractor and be competitive. I need a certain feeling with the bike.”

The contrast couldn’t be more stark. Where Marquez thrives, Bagnaia falters. And for a rider who dominated just a year ago, the sudden drop in performance has shaken his confidence.

🛠️ Ducati’s Technical Dilemma: Why Bagnaia Can’t Go Back to the GP24

Fans have asked the obvious question: if Bagnaia struggles with the GP25, why not revert to the 2024 bike—the one he won a championship on?

Ducati Lenovo team manager Davide Tardozzi addressed this: “Pecco could use everything from the 2024 bike—except the engine and aerodynamics.” That’s because MotoGP regulations allow only one engine specification per manufacturer per season. Once homologated, it can’t be changed.

So, even if Bagnaia wanted to switch back, key components like the engine and aero package are locked in. Essentially, Bagnaia must adapt—or fall behind.

🧠 A Mental Wall: Is Bagnaia Losing the Psychological Battle?

More than just a mechanical issue, Pecco Bagnaia’s 2025 season now has the markings of a mental block. MotoGP insiders, like journalist Lewis Duncan, believe the Italian rider has come to a hard truth after the Jerez test: the problem may not be the bike alone.

“He thought it can’t be me,” said Duncan on the Crash MotoGP podcast. “But he’s realised—it is. He has effectively re-set his championship six rounds in, which is a nightmare because Marquez is doing Marquez things.”

This realization marks a turning point. Until now, Bagnaia clung to the belief that the GP25 was fundamentally flawed. But now, it seems he understands that mental resilience, adaptability, and riding style adjustments are the only way forward.

🏆 Marquez’s Leadership: The Veteran Who Still Learns

While Pecco Bagnaia wrestles with doubt, Marc Marquez shows signs of evolution. No longer the brash, injury-prone rider of recent years, Marquez is embracing a more patient, calculating approach. And it’s paying off.

“It says a lot about a racer that, at 32 and with all the success he’s had, he’s willing to adapt and learn,” said Duncan. “Marc is almost treating this championship as if it’s his first.”

This mindset is lethal in a championship fight. Marquez is racing not just with talent, but with purpose and hunger. That makes him not just fast—but also deeply dangerous.

🔄 Internal Ducati Tension: Can Two Alphas Coexist?

Ducati now faces an internal crisis. How do you support both riders equally when one is thriving and the other is faltering? Tardozzi and the Ducati team are trying to balance the narrative publicly, encouraging Bagnaia while rightfully celebrating Marquez’s wins. But behind the scenes, the situation is likely more fragile.

Pecco Bagnaia is not just any rider—he’s a double world champion, a long-term investment for Ducati, and a central figure in their MotoGP identity. But the undeniable success of Marc Marquez makes it hard to keep treating Bagnaia as the lead rider.

📉 A 51-Point Gap and Growing Pressure

After crashing out in Le Mans and finishing 16th, Bagnaia now trails Marquez by 51 points. It’s his first point-less Grand Prix of the 2025 season, and the front-end issues have returned with a vengeance. In a sport where every race counts, this kind of deficit is massive.

Bagnaia has six races to prove that he still belongs in the title hunt—or else Ducati may throw full weight behind Marquez as the only realistic championship contender.

🤯 Marquez’s Adaptability vs Bagnaia’s Dependence

There’s a key philosophical difference between these two riders. Marquez adapts. He’s willing to change his style, alter his inputs, and take risks on a new bike. Bagnaia, by contrast, needs the machine to behave in a specific way. This difference is at the core of their 2025 trajectories.

Marquez has taken ownership of the GP25, molding it to his style and taking wins along the way. Bagnaia, waiting for the bike to come to him, is getting left behind. In MotoGP 2025, the sport isn’t waiting for anyone.

⚠️ Ducati’s Championship Strategy: One Rider, or Two?

As the season heads into its summer stretch, Ducati’s leadership will face a tough decision. Do they split resources equally and hope Bagnaia regains form? Or do they go all-in on the red-hot Marc Marquez, who may deliver their next title?

It’s a dangerous situation. Favor one rider too heavily, and you risk alienating the other. But with MotoGP 2025 so tightly contested and Aprilia and KTM gaining ground, Ducati can’t afford political missteps in the garage.

If Bagnaia can’t close the gap soon, Ducati may have no choice but to shift into championship mode—and that means backing the rider with momentum.

🏁 Final Thoughts: A Rivalry That Could Define the Season

The 2025 MotoGP season was supposed to be about Ducati dominance. Instead, it’s turning into a psychological and political minefield. With Marc Marquez leading the charge and Pecco Bagnaia battling himself, the story has become one of resilience, redemption, and rivalry.

For fans, it’s thrilling. For Ducati, it’s delicate. One wrong move could shatter garage harmony, while the right choice could secure a championship. Whether this ends with Marquez winning it all, Bagnaia pulling off a comeback, or Ducati imploding from within—it’s the storyline that will define MotoGP 2025.