Valentino Rossi makes a shocking move. Wants Francesco Bagnaia to crush Marc Marquez and kick him out of Ducati because he considers Marquez a useless media product.

MotoGP has always been a battleground of fierce rivalries, political power plays, and unexpected twists. However, the latest development involving Valentino Rossi, Francesco Bagnaia, and Marc Márquez could be the most explosive yet. Reports are surfacing that Rossi, a nine-time world champion and MotoGP legend, has allegedly set his sights on eliminating Marc Márquez from Ducati’s future plans.

Rossi has never forgiven Márquez for their past clashes, and sources suggest that he now wants his protégé, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, to crush Márquez on track and ensure the eight-time world champion has no future at Ducati. More shockingly, Rossi is rumored to have dismissed Márquez as nothing more than a “useless media product”, claiming that his reputation outweighs his actual value in the sport today.

With tensions already sky-high at Ducati between the reigning champion Bagnaia and the newly arrived Márquez, could this shocking move from Rossi be the final spark that ignites a war within the team?

The Deep-Rooted Rossi vs. Márquez Feud: A War That Never Ended

To fully understand why Rossi might be pushing to erase Márquez from Ducati’s future, we must revisit their infamous 2015 rivalry, which arguably changed MotoGP forever.

1. The 2015 Sepang Clash: The Day Everything Changed

• Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez had a public and bitter falling out during the 2015 MotoGP season.
• Rossi accused Márquez of intentionally sabotaging his championship hopes by slowing him down in races and indirectly helping Jorge Lorenzo win the title.
• Their infamous clash at the Malaysian Grand Prix saw Rossi push Márquez wide, leading to a penalty that cost Rossi the championship.

2. Years of Silence and Cold War

Since that incident, Rossi and Marquez have never reconciled. While Márquez continued to dominate MotoGP in the late 2010s, Rossi slowly faded from the championship battle. However, even in retirement, Rossi’s influence remains massive, particularly through his VR46 Academy, which has produced top riders like Francesco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi.

With Márquez now entering Ducati territory, it seems that Rossi is unwilling to let his old rival succeed within the same manufacturer that now backs his riders.

Rossi’s Secret Plan: Pushing Ducati to Fully Back Bagnaia Over Márquez?

1. The “Pecco vs. Marc” Battle: Rossi’s Masterplan?

• Francesco Bagnaia is Ducati’s reigning champion and golden boy. He has delivered back-to-back MotoGP world titles for the Italian manufacturer and is Rossi’s most successful protégé.
• Márquez, meanwhile, is entering Ducati via Gresini Racing, hoping to prove he can still fight for the title after years of struggling at Honda.
• If Márquez threatens Bagnaia’s dominance, Rossi could see this as an attack on his VR46 legacy.

Insiders claim that Rossi has urged Ducati’s top brass to prioritize Bagnaia in all internal battles. This could mean:

• Strategic team orders favor Bagnaia over Márquez in critical races.
• Preferential treatment in technical support, ensuring Bagnaia always has the best setup.
• Political pressure to prevent Márquez from ever getting a factory Ducati seat in 2025.

If Márquez struggles to match Bagnaia in 2024, Ducati could easily justify keeping him away from the factory team, effectively forcing him out of Ducati altogether.

2. Dismissing Márquez as a “Useless Media Product”

Perhaps the most brutal part of Rossi’s alleged campaign against Márquez is his rumored dismissal of the Spaniard as a “useless media product.”.

• What does this mean? Rossi reportedly believes that Márquez’s relevance today is based more on media hype than real racing results.
• While Márquez was undeniably dominant in the past, injuries and years of struggling at Honda have taken their toll.
• Does Ducati truly need Márquez, or is he just a PR stunt? Rossi appears to believe the latter and wants Ducati to focus entirely on Bagnaia instead.

If this narrative gains traction, Márquez could find himself fighting an uphill battle not just on the track but politically within Ducati as well.

How Will Márquez Respond? Is He Being Set Up to Fail?

Marc Márquez is no stranger to adversity. However, he now faces perhaps the toughest challenge of his career—proving himself against Ducati’s reigning champion while battling against Rossi’s political influence.

1. Márquez’s Biggest Obstacles in 2024

• He is on a satellite Ducati bike (Gresini Racing), while Bagnaia is on the factory-spec Desmosedici.
• If Ducati listens to Rossi, Márquez may never get a factory seat, even if he outperforms Bagnaia.
• Ducati could favor Bagnaia with upgrades and data sharing, giving him the upper hand in the long run.

2. Márquez’s Best Shot: Destroying Bagnaia on Track

The only way Márquez can silence both Rossi and Ducati’s internal politics is by doing what he does best—winning races and proving he’s still the most talented rider on the grid.

If Márquez can:

• Consistently fight for podiums and victories despite being on an older-spec Ducati, it will prove he still has what it takes.
• Challenge Bagnaia head-to-head and make him uncomfortable in title fights; it could disrupt Ducati’s loyalty.
• Force Ducati to consider him for a 2025 factory ride, proving he’s not just a “media product,” but a genuine threat for the championship.

However, if Márquez struggles in the first few rounds, Rossi’s strategy could gain traction, leaving him politically outmatched and unable to secure his future at Ducati.

What Does This Mean for Ducati’s Future?

With this intense Rossi vs. Márquez subplot brewing behind the scenes, Ducati now finds itself in a delicate situation.

• If Márquez performs well, Ducati may have to choose between loyalty to Bagnaia and securing another title contender.
• If Márquez fails, Ducati could simply let him fade away, reinforcing Bagnaia as their long-term leader.
• If Ducati ignores Rossi’s influence and treats Márquez equally, it could create an all-out war within the team.

Ducati has historically struggled with managing two alpha riders, and with Bagnaia, Márquez, and even Jorge Martín in the mix, things could get out of control quickly.

Conclusion: A Ruthless Power Play from Rossi?

Valentino Rossi’s longstanding feud with Marc Márquez may not be over just yet. If these reports are true, it appears that Rossi is doing everything in his power to ensure that Márquez does not find success at Ducati—even if it means pushing Bagnaia to be the one to eliminate him.

With Ducati caught in the middle of this war, the 2024 MotoGP season is set to be one of the most politically charged and intense battles in years.

Will Márquez fight back and prove he still belongs at the top? Or will Rossi’s influence within Ducati ensure that Bagnaia remains untouchable, effectively forcing Márquez out?

One thing is certain—this isn’t just about racing anymore. This is a battle for power, influence, and legacy.