Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez is the only rider to have mastered Ducati’s GP25 this season. Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio have both struggled with the updated machine.
Bagnaia has won two Grands Prix and two Sprints this year, but he’s also failed to score in 14 out of 40 races. The winless Di Giannantonio has notched seven podiums but has lacked consistency, which is why he’s only seventh in the standings.
It’s not as if Ducati would have relinquished the championship without Marquez. His brother Alex has cruised to second place on the GP24.
However, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi has taken third place from Bagnaia and KTM’s Pedro Acosta could yet follow him through. With rivals closing in and a two-time premier-class champion losing his way, Marquez’s dominance has overshadowed some concerning developments at Bologna.
Michele Pirro credits Ducati for reviving Marc Marquez’s MotoGP career
Speaking to GPOne, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro applauded Luigi Dall’Igna and his team for ‘reviving’ riders like Marquez. The Ant of Cervera has said multiple times that he left Honda to prove to himself that he could win again.
From 2021 to 2023, Marquez finished between seventh and 14th in the championship amid his protracted injury problems and Honda’s decline. He returned to the top three last year at Gresini and was as dominant as ever in 2025.
When Marquez climbed onto a Desmosedici motorcycle, the brand were already on a run of three straight championships.
“I think Ducati has been instrumental in reviving the riders,” said Pirro. “In fact, it’s not Marquez who made Ducati win, but Ducati that gave Marc the chance to find himself.”
Pirro also pointed to the example of Nicolo Bulega, whose MotoGP dream was dashed after three underwhelming Moto2 campaigns. Bulega lost the backing of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 academy, but Ducati picked him up for their Supersport team and he later became a serial winner in World Superbikes.
“[It’s] exactly like what the Aruba family did with Nicolo, starting him from the SSP, then getting him to where you’ve seen,” said Pirro.
Nicolo Bulega will be MotoGP ready in 2027 – Michele Pirro’s verdict
After Pirro rode the bike in Australia and Malaysia, Bulega will replace Marquez at the Portuguese Grand Prix, as well as the season finale in Valencia.
Bulega set competitive lap times in a Ducati test at Jerez, removing any doubts the team had about unleashing him. All parties are trying to manage expectations, including Pirro.
“Nicolo has to enjoy himself,” he said. “He has the talent to do well and grow, like many MotoGP riders. In fact, you can’t buy that.”
Bulega will become a MotoGP test rider next year in addition to his WSBK duties. Pirro could ‘definitely’ see him following Toprak Razgatlioglu to Grand Prix racing for 2027.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t have much time to prepare for the Portimao race, but he can definitely jump into the MotoGP in 2027,” he said.
“Nicolo is young. He suffered in the past, but he remained that talent that we knew well.”
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