The 2025 MotoGP season has been a rollercoaster of drama, and a recent outburst from Domizia Castagnini, wife of two-time world champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, has added fuel to the fire. In a fiery statement that has sent shockwaves through the paddock, Castagnini publicly criticized MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, accusing him of being the reason behind her husband’s failure to secure a third consecutive championship title. Her pointed remark, “Stay away from him,” directed at Rossi, has sparked intense debate among fans and analysts, reigniting discussions about the complex mentor-protégé dynamic between Rossi and Bagnaia, as well as the fierce competition with Spanish riders, particularly Marc Marquez, who has dominated the 2025 season.

Bagnaia, a product of Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy, has long been seen as the Italian icon’s heir apparent. Under Rossi’s guidance, he rose from a challenging debut in Moto3 to clinching back-to-back MotoGP titles in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first Italian to do so since Rossi in 2009. However, the 2025 season has been a stark contrast to his previous successes. Despite a strong start with a victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas, Bagnaia’s campaign faltered, marked by crashes in both the sprint and feature races at the French Grand Prix and a mid-season slump that left him trailing Marquez by 168 points by the summer break. Marquez, riding the factory Ducati GP25 alongside Bagnaia, capitalized on his teammate’s struggles, securing nine Grand Prix wins and twelve sprint race victories in the first thirteen rounds.

Castagnini’s outburst, reported by Motorcycle Sports, came after Bagnaia’s disappointing performance at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he failed to finish the sprint race and struggled to match Marquez’s pace. She blamed Rossi’s influence, suggesting that his presence and advice have been more detrimental than helpful. “Valentino’s shadow looms too large,” she reportedly said, implying that Rossi’s involvement in Bagnaia’s career, including his role in the VR46 Academy and Ducati’s strategy, has placed undue pressure on her husband. This criticism echoes sentiments from some paddock insiders, with journalist David Emmett noting on the Paddock Pass Podcast that Bagnaia’s struggles resemble Rossi’s own difficulties during his Ducati stint in 2011-2012, when he was outshone by Casey Stoner.

The rivalry between Bagnaia and Marquez has been a central storyline of the 2025 season. Marquez, who joined Ducati as Bagnaia’s teammate, has adapted seamlessly to the GP25, leveraging its technical advancements to dominate races. Posts on X have highlighted Marquez’s versatility, with one user stating, “Marc can ride anything and win,” contrasting this with Bagnaia’s need for a bike perfectly suited to his style. The tension between the two was palpable at Mugello, where a fierce early battle saw contact between them, drawing scrutiny from Race Direction. Bagnaia’s struggles with the GP25’s front-end issues have compounded his challenges, leaving him 110 points behind Marquez in the championship standings by mid-season.

Castagnini’s comments also point to the broader context of Italian-Spanish rivalry in MotoGP. Marquez, alongside his brother Alex, who emerged as a surprise title contender with Gresini Racing, has dominated headlines, overshadowing Bagnaia’s efforts. The 2024 season saw Bagnaia finish as runner-up to Jorge Martin, another Spanish rider, by just 10 points, despite a record-breaking 11 feature race wins. This loss, coupled with Marquez’s 2025 dominance, has fueled frustration in the Bagnaia camp. Castagnini’s remarks suggest that Rossi’s mentorship, once a cornerstone of Bagnaia’s success, may now be a source of distraction, particularly as Rossi has expressed intentions to be more present in the paddock to support his protégé against Marquez.

The MotoGP community has reacted strongly to Castagnini’s outburst. Some fans on Reddit defend Rossi, arguing that his VR46 Academy transformed Bagnaia from a “depressed” rider into a champion, as revealed by Bagnaia’s father, Pietro, in a podcast with Manuel Pecino. Others speculate that the pressure of racing alongside Marquez, a rider Rossi himself struggled to beat, has exposed vulnerabilities in Bagnaia’s mental game. Sylvain Guintoli, speaking to TNT Sports, warned that Marquez’s arrival at Ducati would make 2025 a “difficult year” for Bagnaia, a prediction that has proven prescient.

As the season heads toward its climax, Castagnini’s words have added a new layer of intrigue to Bagnaia’s battle to reclaim his form. Whether Rossi’s influence is indeed a hindrance or a misunderstood asset remains a topic of debate. For now, Marquez continues to set the pace, leaving Bagnaia and his supporters grappling with the challenge of overcoming not just a rival, but the weight of expectations tied to Rossi’s legacy.