Marco Bezzecchi
Amid all of the success that Ducati achieved in 2025 through Marc Marquez, Davide Tardozzi has shared one moment that ‘really bothered’ him.
Marc Marquez’s debut campaign with the factory Ducati team was nothing short of the perfect maiden season at a new team.
The Spaniard regained his dominant form of the past and stiff-armed the competition at every given opportunity on his way to 25 victories out of 36 races.
Two of those victories came on the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix, in which Marquez displayed both his dominance and perfection as he clinched pole position, the Sprint race win and Grand Prix victory at Mugello.
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the 32-year-old. With it being one of the home races for his long-time nemesis, Valentino Rossi, Marquez was the subject of loud boos from the crowd during his post-race celebrations.
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Davide Tardozzi shares how seeing Marc Marquez being booed at Mugello was a ‘very difficult moment’ for him
Marquez responded to the boos in his post-race comments, shaking off the aggrieved fans by choosing to thank those who applauded his impressive comeback from an off-the-line mistake.
However, the incident wasn’t shaken off quite so easily by everyone at the Borgo Panigale-based MotoGP outfit.
Team boss Davide Tardozzi fumed about the reception his star rider had received in one of Ducati’s home Grands Prix during DAZN’s new docuseries about the Spaniard, Volver.
Recalling the race weekend, Tardozzi said, “It was a very difficult moment for me because when I see the Mugello grandstand, more than fifty percent of whom were wearing Pecco [Bagnaia]’s shirt, a rider of Marc’s calibre who rides a Ducati at Mugello and has won, he can’t be booed.
“I’m really tired of this 2015 memory. Enough already, you’re not a true motorcycle fan if you’re still clinging to that. That’s why it really bothered me. First, because you need to respect the winner.
“Second, because we’re at Mugello, you’re wearing Pecco’s shirt, and you can’t boo Marc. So it was a gesture that came out instinctively for these reasons. And I insist, enough about 2015.
“After ten years, enough is enough, because I’ve said it, I’ve repeated it, and I have to say it again: the truth is, it’s not just Marc’s fault.
“The truth is, the blame has to be split fifty-fifty. Marc made a mistake, and Valentino Rossi made a mistake. So enough is enough.”
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The Italian Grand Prix wasn’t the only instance in which Marquez felt the wrath of Rossi’s beloved tifosi.
Despite the pleas of Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, the Spaniard was booed once again at the following round that took place in Italy, the San Marino Grand Prix.
Marquez was on form once again, clinching victory in the Grand Prix after crashing out of the Sprint race the day before. His crash was met with jeers from fans, much to the delight of Rossi.
However, it isn’t just Marquez who is feeling the heat from fans.
Images of Rossi were booed at MotoGP’s prize-giving ceremony in Valencia by local fans, who may have felt like they were getting payback for the icy receptions their rider had received in the Italian’s old stomping grounds.
The 2025 title-winner asked for those in attendance to respect everybody equally, which was met with cheers from the crowd who started to sing Marquez’s name.
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