In 2025, the MotoGP landscape will undergo a seismic change with the arrival of Marc Marquez to the factory Ducati team, after an extraordinary 2024 season with the satellite team. The move has sparked heated debate and great excitement within the paddock. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has openly praised Marquez’s exceptional performance, acknowledging that, despite riding a less competitive bike, he managed to outperform rivals riding more modern machines. Marquez’s arrival in the factory team represents a strategic move for Ducati, as the Spanish rider, with his experience and technical ability, could become a key asset in the title fight. Tardozzi also highlighted how the collaboration between Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, the 2023 world champion, could create one of the strongest pairings in MotoGP history, comparable to that of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in the heyday of Yamaha.

The rider from Cervera has shown an extraordinary ability to adapt to difficult situations, as he did in 2024 with the Ducati GP23, which despite not being the most recent bike, allowed him to take third place in the championship with three wins and ten podiums. This result surprised many, considering that Marquez has managed to beat riders with more advanced bikes, demonstrating that his ability does not only depend on the machine at his disposal, but also on his tactical and psychological intelligence. Oscar Haro, a MotoGP analyst, highlighted how Marquez has made many of his rivals look foolish, achieving exceptional results with a bike that had been considered inferior to others.

The news of Marquez’s move to Ducati, combined with his bold and strategic riding style, has also prompted comparisons with legend Marco Simoncelli, who passed away prematurely. Paolo Simoncelli, Marco’s father and owner of the Moto3658 team, expressed his appreciation for Ducati’s choice, noting that Marquez is a brave rider who fights with passion, just like his son. Ducati’s decision to enlist Marquez was not only a sporting choice, but also a strategic one: keeping him on their side means having an ally rather than a rival to face on track. This change will certainly have a significant impact on the 2025 season, with Ducati aiming to dominate MotoGP with a team formed by Bagnaia and Marquez.

However, despite Marquez’s excellent results, Francesco Bagnaia’s 2024 season has not been without its challenges. Despite his 11 wins and 16 podiums, Bagnaia has made mistakes in sprint Grands Prix that have prevented him from securing a third consecutive title. These mistakes have been costly, with some observers, including Paolo Simoncelli, pointing out that Bagnaia has the potential to dominate, but must learn from his failures. The fact that Ducati has decided to pair Marquez with Bagnaia represents a clear intention to capitalise on the experience of both riders, creating a winning pairing that could dominate for years to come.

Meanwhile, the 2025 season will also see the return of Yamaha, which has decided to abandon its collaboration with the Pramac team to join forces with the Japanese manufacturer. This radical change has been fueled by Yamaha’s need to regain competitiveness, after a period of difficulty. Gino Borsoi, Pramac team manager, has acknowledged that the transition to Yamaha will not be easy, but it represents a challenge that could bring long-term results. The aim is to transfer the experience gained with Ducati and adapt it to Yamaha’s culture and needs. Pramac’s choice to focus on a V-engined bike, as opposed to the traditional inline four-cylinder engine, represents a strategic step to reduce the gap with the European teams, especially Ducati. The challenge will be arduous, but the new rider pairing of Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira brings with them a wealth of experience and will be fundamental to the development of the Japanese bike.

With Pramac leaving Ducati and joining Yamaha, the 2025 season promises to be full of twists and turns. Marquez’s decision to join the factory Ducati team, combined with Pramac’s transition to Yamaha, marks a significant change in MotoGP. Both moves have in common the ambition to become absolute protagonists in the championship, but there is no shortage of unknowns. It will be interesting to see how these new balances will evolve and whether Ducati will be able to make the most of the Marquez-Bagnaia combination to consolidate its supremacy, while Yamaha will try to climb back up after a period of difficulty. The MotoGP of the future is ready to rewrite its history.