Scott Redding supports Marc Marquez to succeed at Ducati

Scott Redding believes Marc Marquez will flourish with Ducati, calling his Honda years ‘painful’ and backing him to dominate MotoGP 2025.

Scott Redding of Great Britain and Bonovo Action BMW prepares to start on the grid during WorldSBK Race 1 of the FIM World Superbike Championship - Portuguese Round at Portimao Circuit in Portimao on August 10, 2024. Photo by Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Scott Redding and Marc Marquez have a long history, dating back to their early racing careers in the junior categories. Both competed in 125cc, with Redding making the jump to Moto2 in 2010. Marquez followed a year later and quickly established himself as a title contender, finishing as runner-up to Stefan Bradl in 2011 before clinching the Moto2 championship in 2012.

While Marquez’s rapid rise earned him a MotoGP debut with Repsol Honda in 2013, where he won the title as a rookie, Redding’s path was more challenging. He stepped up to the premier class in 2014 with a satellite Honda, later switching to Ducati and Aprilia, but failed to secure a victory before exiting MotoGP at the end of 2018. His best results were two third-place finishes, both with Marquez on the podium—at the 2015 San Marino Grand Prix and the 2016 Dutch TT.

Redding calls Marquez’s Honda years ‘painful’

Speaking on the Motorsport Republica podcast, Redding reflected on Marquez’s difficult final years with Honda. After suffering a serious arm injury in 2020, Marquez endured multiple surgeries and had to push a struggling bike beyond its limits. Despite occasional victories, Honda’s decline was evident, and even the six-time MotoGP champion couldn’t turn things around.

“You could see how painful it was for him,” Redding said. “He’s relentless. That’s why he had those massive crashes. He didn’t care—he wanted to win so badly that he was willing to take those risks every weekend. It wasn’t fair on him.”

After years of frustration, Marquez made the bold decision to leave Honda at the end of 2023, signing with Gresini Racing to ride a satellite Ducati. The move shocked the MotoGP world but was widely seen as his best chance to return to championship contention.

Marquez set to dominate with Ducati

Marquez’s switch to Ducati immediately paid off, with the Spaniard securing three victories in 2024 despite riding an older-spec GP23. Now, with a full factory-spec bike for 2025, expectations are sky-high.

Redding revealed that Marquez sent him a text message after signing with Ducati, expressing excitement about his new opportunity. “When he signed, I messaged him and said, ‘Bro, I’m so happy, you are going to absolutely love it,’” Redding shared.

The Englishman believes Marquez is finally in a position where he can afford to take fewer risks, thanks to Ducati’s competitive package. “He was in an unfair position at Honda, having to push beyond the bike’s limits. Now, he doesn’t have to take those insane risks—he has the best bike on the grid.”

The battle with Bagnaia for the 2025 title

Marquez’s arrival at Ducati has shaken up the MotoGP landscape, and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia faces his toughest challenge yet. In 2024, Bagnaia had the advantage of a superior bike, which allowed him to stay ahead of Marquez. However, with both riders now on equal machinery, Ducati engineers have privately admitted that Marquez is a serious threat.

Marquez’s mother assured him back in 2020 that everything would “work out” after his injury struggles, and now, at 32, he is the overwhelming favorite for the 2025 MotoGP title. If he succeeds, he will become the oldest premier-class champion in history, surpassing Valentino Rossi.

Marquez’s impact at Ducati has already been compared to Rossi’s arrival at Yamaha in 2004, with insiders noting how quickly he has adapted to the new bike. While Bagnaia remains Ducati’s lead rider on paper, he must now prove he can fend off a revitalized Marquez—arguably the greatest threat he has ever faced.

As the MotoGP season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Marquez can complete his comeback and add another title to his legendary career.