What people ‘around’ Valentino Rossi are saying about Marc Marquez after perfect start at Ducati

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Marc Marquez is trying to match Valentino Rossi by winning a seventh MotoGP title this year. He would also equal Rossi’s total of nine championships in Grand Prix racing.

Marquez has started the season in a manner that suggests he will dominate. He’s picked up the maximum haul of 37 points so far, opening up a 16-point lead over his brother Alex.

His Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia – seen by many as the only rider who could realistically stop Marquez this year – has underwhelmed. Bagnaia has yet to crack the top two and slipped off the podium at the Argentine Grand Prix.

Given the bitter rivalry between Marquez and Rossi, it would no doubt be particularly satisfying for the Spaniard to replicate his achievements. Ducati’s margin over the field could enable him to overtake the Doctor in 2026 too.

Valentino Rossi’s entourage are worried about Marc Marquez form

A report from Marca reveals how Rossi’s entourage are feeling about Marquez’s ominous start. They know he has all the ingredients to be untouchable both this year and next.

Those ‘around’ the Italian ‘fear’ that Marquez will not only catch but overtake his nemesis in the all-time leaderboards. He still needs another 25 victories to match Rossi’s premier-class haul.

It’s worth noting that the MotoGP calendar now runs for 22 races. During Rossi’s career, the number of rounds was typically in the late teens.

Marquez is looking to break his own record for most wins in a season (13). Most would expect him to win at least 12 of the remaining 20 Grands Prix.

Is Valentino Rossi the reason some MotoGP fans hate Francesco Bagnaia?

There’s an extra layer to the Marquez vs Rossi battle because the latter is closely aligned with Bagnaia. The no. 63 rider is a product of the VR46 academy.

Scott Redding says Rossi and Bagnaia are very different in their attitude to Marquez. While one apparently stoked hostility among his fans, the other has tried to silence any boos from partisan crowds.

Bagnaia has repeatedly refused to get involved in mind games. But Marquez will pose the biggest test yet to his integrity.

According to his father, some MotoGP fans hate Bagnaia due to his ties to Rossi. This is patently unfair, but it does highlight the lasting hostility from the Honda vs Yamaha years.