Ducati’s internal EXPLOSION after Bagnaia’s SERIOUS WARNING aimed straight at Marc Marquez at San Marino GP !!
The 2025 MotoGP season has been a thrilling spectacle, but nowhere has the drama been more intense than within the Ducati Lenovo Team. The San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, a cornerstone event on the MotoGP calendar, became the stage for a fiery escalation in the rivalry between Ducati’s two heavyweight riders, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia and Marc Marquez. A stern warning issued by Bagnaia to his teammate Marquez has ignited tensions within the team, exposing underlying cracks in what was touted as a “dream team” partnership. As the championship battle heats up, the events at San Marino have raised questions about Ducati’s ability to manage its star-studded lineup and maintain harmony in the pursuit of the 2025 title.
The roots of this conflict trace back to the dynamic shift within Ducati following Marquez’s arrival at the factory team for the 2025 season. The eight-time world champion, known for his aggressive riding style and relentless ambition, joined forces with Bagnaia, a double MotoGP champion and Ducati’s established star. The pairing was heralded as a powerhouse, with 11 world titles between them, but it also sparked concerns about how Ducati would handle two alpha riders vying for supremacy. Early in the season, Marquez adapted seamlessly to the Desmosedici GP25, dominating races and leading the championship standings with a 93-point advantage over Bagnaia by the Aragon Grand Prix. Bagnaia, meanwhile, struggled with front-end issues on the new bike, a stark contrast to his commanding performances in previous seasons.
The San Marino GP weekend was poised to be a turning point. Misano, a track where Bagnaia has historically excelled, offered the Italian a chance to reclaim his form on home soil. However, Marquez’s relentless pace in practice sessions set the tone, with the Spaniard breaking lap records and securing pole position. Bagnaia, still grappling with the GP25’s setup, qualified third but expressed frustration over the bike’s front-end instability, a recurring issue that he felt was not being adequately addressed. The tension came to a head during a post-qualifying team meeting, where Bagnaia issued a pointed warning to Marquez, urging him not to disrupt the team’s development process with his contrasting technical demands. According to sources within the paddock, Bagnaia emphasized the need for a unified approach to bike setup, subtly criticizing Marquez’s pragmatic adaptability, which allows him to mask the GP25’s flaws.
The warning was not just about technical disagreements but also a reflection of the psychological warfare brewing between the two riders. Marquez, unfazed by Bagnaia’s comments, responded with a characteristic quip, suggesting that riders who struggle with multiple setups might be the problem, not the bike. This exchange, captured in part by Ducati’s “Inside” documentary series, sent shockwaves through the MotoGP community, with fans and analysts speculating about a potential “technical schism” within the team. The situation was further complicated by Ducati’s introduction of a new aerodynamic fairing at Aragon, which Bagnaia praised as a breakthrough, while Marquez remained skeptical, advocating for a more gradual implementation.
On race day at San Marino, Marquez’s masterclass in mixed conditions secured him the victory, with Bagnaia finishing a cautious second. The Italian admitted post-race that Marquez was “too fit” to catch, acknowledging his teammate’s superior pace but also hinting at lingering frustration. The result narrowed the championship gap slightly, but Bagnaia’s comments underscored a deeper issue: the growing divide in their approaches to bike development. While Marquez’s adaptability has given him an edge, Bagnaia’s insistence on specific adjustments, such as the 355mm brake discs, has left him isolated within the team. Some observers, including former rider Ricard Jové, have even suggested that Ducati’s respect for Bagnaia is waning as Marquez continues to dominate.
The fallout from Bagnaia’s warning has put Ducati’s management in a precarious position. Team manager Davide Tardozzi has downplayed the tension, insisting that managing two champions is “easier than young kids” and emphasizing the mutual respect between the riders. However, the reality is more complex. With Marquez leading the championship and Bagnaia struggling to regain his 2024 form, Ducati faces a delicate balancing act. The team’s decision to prioritize a common engine for 2025, despite differing rider preferences, has only amplified the strain. As the season progresses toward critical races like Misano’s second round and the summer break, the question looms: can Ducati maintain unity, or will this internal war derail their championship hopes?
The San Marino GP has laid bare the challenges of managing two titans in one garage. Bagnaia’s warning to Marquez was not just a call for collaboration but a plea to preserve his own legacy within Ducati. For Marquez, it’s a challenge to assert his dominance on a team built around his rival. As the MotoGP world watches, Ducati’s dream team is teetering on the edge of discord, and the outcome of this internal battle could define the 2025 season.
