Marc Marquez closely studied one thing Francesco Bagnaia was doing at Ducati during 2024 MotoGP season

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Marc Marquez has joined Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati for the 2025 MotoGP season. The duo creates what is surely the strongest rider pairing in the premier class.

Ducati dominated the 2024 season as a team and a manufacturer. They won all but one race last season as the factory outfit won the constructors’ title over satellite team Pramac by 203 points.

But it was the Noale-based outfit that won the Riders’ Championship. Despite Bagnaia winning 11 races, Jorge Martin became the first independent team rider to win the title as he beat the Italian by 10 points.

Bagnaia comes into the 2025 MotoGP season as the clear favourite after Martin joined Aprilia following his snub from Ducati. The defending champion was set for the second factory seat but the team opted for Marquez.

The 31-year-old enjoyed a solid first season as a Ducati rider in 2024 as he finished third in the standings with satellite team Gresini. Now a factory rider, Marquez is in a great position to fight for the championship.

Marc Marquez studied Francesco Bagnaia to understand Ducati’s setup in 2024

Ducati general manager Luigi Dall’Igna says it was ‘complicated’ that Pramac won the 2024 title as Ducati’s sponsors pay to be affiliated with the brand. Therefore, they view the factory team as more important and should have success.

But it was always Dall’Igna’s philosophy to have the satellite teams compete for the title. This explains why Ducati share their data with all of their riders as, in Marquez’s words, it is ‘easier to improve’ that way.

READ MORE: What Ducati fans told Marc Marquez at 2025 bike launch after previous friction

The six-time champion moved from Honda last year to become a Ducati rider and instantly made an impact, Gresini staff were stunned by how quickly Marquez learned everything at the team as he went on to grab three wins and 10 podiums.

Speaking on Ducati’s official YouTube channel, Marquez shared how he learned from Bagnaia to understand the ‘setup’ at the team.

“Of course you are looking at [the] top Ducati riders and last year, especially the first part of the season, I was looking [at] what Pecco and Martin was doing”, he said.

“They were both the fastest guys but especially Pecco because [he] was in the factory team and [I] tried to understand the setup.

“Then the second part of the season was a different way, a different style because I followed more my way, because I started to understand better the bike and then I started to understand better what I need.

“But always [it] is a good strategy what Ducati have, that is share all the information with all the riders because it’s easier to improve”.

Who will come out on top at Ducati in 2025?

Marquez has ‘tried quite hard’ not to say he is a title contender in 2025. While he says his target is the top three, the Spaniard will be eyeing a seventh championship with Ducati.

The battle between him and Bagnaia will be on everyone’s mind heading into this season. Marquez will certainly provide a stronger challenge for his teammate than Enea Bastianini did last year.

But it appears the Ducati duo are playing down the competition between them. Peter McLaren says Andrea Dovizioso ‘changed’ Marquez’s attitude to battling his rivals as the two were not as fierce off track as the latter was with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Marquez’s ‘rivalry’ with Bagnaia could well be the same as Dovizioso. But Bagnaia could use Rossi to ‘let rip’ into Marquez to the press if they have any drama on or off track.

Bagnaia says Marquez’s arrival to Ducati is ‘very beautiful’ for the team, but things could turn sour very quick if the two find themselves fighting for the championship.