MARQUEZ SAYS HE FEELS FOR STRUGGLING BAGNAIA AS DUCATI EXIT NEARS

Marc Marquez says he feels “really sorry” to see Francesco Bagnaia struggling at Ducati, praising the Italian as a “brilliant guy” who welcomed him warmly when he joined the factory team.

The pair were expected to fight for titles after Marquez arrived in 2025, but their fortunes diverged. Marquez won 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprints that season, while Bagnaia managed two victories in each format and struggled to find confidence in the GP25’s front end. His difficulties continued into 2026: with four rounds remaining, he is ninth in the championship, has retired eight times and has recorded four Sunday podiums. Marquez, meanwhile, leads the standings by 10 points after returning from injury at Mugello and winning six races.

Speaking to Motosprint, Marquez said he and Bagnaia still talk, and that he is willing to help. “He’s got his own circle of friends, but we do talk, and he knows I’m here to try and help him too,” he said. Marquez added that riders facing difficult moments may prefer the support of people closest to them. “Anyway, we do talk, but we keep it to ourselves.”

Bagnaia’s relationship with Ducati reportedly began to deteriorate last year as he grew frustrated that the team could not explain his lack of form. He will leave for Aprilia in 2027 on a four-year contract, joining Marco Bezzecchi. A change of team and machinery could offer a fresh start, although Enea Bastianini has warned that Bagnaia may be at a disadvantage because he has yet to test the new Pirelli tyres.

Ducati has chosen Pedro Acosta as Bagnaia’s replacement. Marquez believes the move is right for the team’s future and recognises the threat posed by his incoming teammate, who has already shown he can challenge him in races. “On a personal level, I think there are lots of differences between us, but on the track he’s a ‘killer’,” Marquez said.

He compared the generational shift to football, arguing that experience cannot always match a younger rider’s speed. “It’s impossible to keep winning until you’re 40,” he said, likening himself to Lionel Messi and Acosta to a 20-year-old prodigy. “Messi can use his head and his experience, but the other has more explosive pace, and in this case Ducati has chosen the right rider for its future.”