Marc Marquez’s influence at Ducati draws comparisons to Valentino Rossi
Marc Marquez’s ability to shape a team compared to Valentino Rossi’s influence.
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| Valentino Rossi of Italy reacts to the crash involving Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez, which determined Francesco Bagnaia's championship victory, during the MotoGP Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana at Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, on November 26, 2023. Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty Images |
By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini
Marc Marquez has the ability to shape a MotoGP garage around his needs, a crucial skill that could define his future with Ducati. His dominant victory at the Thailand MotoGP not only signaled his competitiveness in 2025 but also raised questions about his role within the team.
Marquez’s talent for influencing a team has drawn comparisons to his former rival Valentino Rossi, who famously commanded Yamaha’s garage during his career. Now, the six-time MotoGP champion faces a similar dynamic at Ducati, where reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia has been the clear leader.
Marquez’s influence on the Ducati team
The potential shift in Ducati’s internal hierarchy has sparked debate among experts. TNT Sports’ Neil Hodgson weighed in on Marquez’s ability to unite a team around him.
“People at home will think about Marc: arrogance, because of his behavior on track,” Hodgson said. “But he’s a people person, he’s a real team player.
“He’s really good—this sounds harsh—at manipulating the team around him.
“I underline that by saying it’s part of the job.
“You want all the guys in the team to fight for you. Marc is the master of that.
“Do you know who was better than him, or as good as him? Valentino.
“Valentino could manipulate a team around him very well.”
Marquez’s presence at Ducati has drawn inevitable comparisons to Rossi’s past rivalry with Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha. However, both Marquez and Bagnaia have downplayed any suggestion of tension, insisting they are focused on delivering results for Ducati rather than engaging in internal power struggles.
Marquez’s mind games in Thailand
Ahead of his commanding win in Buriram, Marquez made a subtle yet intriguing statement. He claimed he would use Bagnaia as a “reference point” due to his greater experience on the GP25. While seemingly innocuous, the comment suggested a strategic approach to gaining an edge over his teammate.
Hodgson noted how Marquez’s ability to work the media and the garage to his advantage is part of his winning formula.
“It’s not his first rodeo! He knows how to play the press, and a garage,” Hodgson said.
“He’s very good at turning the garage he works in all onto his side. They loved him at Gresini and at Honda.
“Now he’s got the ultimate challenge of turning Bagnaia’s garage into a Marc Marquez garage.
“Pecco won their first MotoGP title since Casey Stoner in 2007. An Italian on their bike winning the championship was huge. They love Pecco at Ducati.
“But one thing I know is that Ducati love winners.”
The shift in power at Ducati
Marquez’s arrival at Ducati was always going to create a shift in the team’s dynamic. Bagnaia, as a two-time world champion, has been the face of Ducati’s resurgence. However, Marquez’s ability to integrate himself into a team and reshape its priorities could challenge that status quo.
Michael Laverty highlighted how Marquez’s move to Ducati has given him a level of confidence he hasn’t displayed in years.
“Nerves come when you turn up knowing that you can win a race,” Laverty said.
“He did sometimes at Gresini. At Aragon he probably arrived confidently. But he was always on the back foot on the older machine.
“Now, he’s got the best tools on the planet at his disposal, and the best engineers.
“The swagger in how he walks around the paddock? He is confident.”
With Marquez now equipped with the best machinery in MotoGP, his ability to influence Ducati’s team structure could be just as crucial as his on-track performance. If history is any indicator, Ducati may soon have to navigate a power struggle between their two star riders.
