The latest Thai GP has sparked a dramatic turn of events in the MotoGP world as Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi unleashed a fierce rebuttal against legend Valentino Rossi following controversial accusations aimed at Marc Márquez. Rossi, the seven-time MotoGP champion, stirred the paddock by suggesting that Márquez’s success at the Thailand race on the Ducati might involve some shady tactics. Speaking on a podcast in late February 2025, Rossi cast doubt on the legitimacy of Márquez’s victory, sending shockwaves through the MotoGP community. Unwilling to let it slide, Tardozzi fired back: “Marquez didn’t cheat, Rossi. Shut up.”
The controversy erupted right after the Thai GP 2025, where Márquez showcased a stellar performance aboard the Ducati Lenovo Team’s Desmosedici GP25. With a commanding win at Buriram, Márquez kicked off the new season in style, reinforcing his position within the “superstar” lineup alongside two-time champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia—once a protégé of Rossi. However, Rossi’s insinuations seemed to hark back to the dramatic 2015 season, when he accused Márquez of sabotaging his title hopes, leading to their infamous clash in Malaysia. Now, Rossi has reignited the feud, claiming Márquez was “too clever” in securing his Thai GP triumph.
Tardozzi wasted no time defending his rider. Speaking at Ducati’s 2025 team launch, he snapped: “Valentino should look at the results and the data, not his personal feelings. Marc won in Thailand because he’s a champion, not a cheater. This is MotoGP, not an emotional game. If Rossi has something to say, he should come face us directly.” He also praised Márquez’s professionalism, highlighting his incredible speed during testing and the Thai GP itself.
The Thai GP didn’t just showcase Márquez’s brilliance—it also exposed simmering tensions within Ducati. Bagnaia, who finished third in Thailand, faces pressure from both Márquez and the lingering influence of Rossi, his former mentor at the VR46 Academy. Though diplomatic with his comment, “I focus on the track, not the chatter,” Bagnaia can’t ignore the stakes as Márquez edges closer to matching Rossi’s seven-title record.
For Márquez, the controversy feels like familiar territory. “I’m used to these kinds of words,” he said with his trademark grin after the Thai GP win. “I just ride, and the results speak for themselves.” Indeed, his victory in Thailand underscored his talent, especially after years of injury setbacks and struggles at Honda. Now piloting the grid’s most formidable bike, he’s a serious contender for the 2025 title.
MotoGP fans are once again split. Social media is buzzing, with some backing Rossi as a truth-teller and others slamming him for refusing to accept Márquez’s resurgence. Tardozzi’s fiery response has only intensified the drama, setting the stage for a thrilling 2025 season. As the next race in Argentina approaches, the Rossi-Márquez saga—though fought through words—remains the focal point, and Ducati’s boss has just fired the opening shot in this heated showdown.
