Marco Bezzecchi
Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio both praised world champion Marc Marquez as VR46 launched their 2026 MotoGP bike on Wednesday.
Team owner Valentino Rossi is a well-known adversary of Marquez, but the VR46 riders must strive to reach the benchmark the Spaniard has set at Ducati.
Morbidelli has been critical of Marquez in the past, suggesting that his behaviour during his infamous 2015 fallout with Rossi harms his standing in MotoGP’s history books.
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But speaking to outlets including Moto.it at VR46’s Rome launch, Morbidelli raved about Marquez’s riding.
Franco Morbidelli feels ‘no pressure’ to catch dominant Marc Marquez
A realistic Morbidelli says he won’t be able to catch Marquez if he maintains his dominant 2025 level. He needs the seven-time MotoGP champion, who missed the end of the season through injury, to drop off.
On top form, Marquez is in a ‘completely different discipline’, an ominous verdict for his brother Alex and teammate Francesco Bagnaia.
“It’s a huge motivation to have a champion like Marquez in your house who rides the same motorbike as you,” Morbidelli explained. “It’s a stimulus.
“He truly does incredible things with the motorbike. Every day he pushes you to push yourself beyond your limits and try to reach his level.
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“If he dominates the way he dominated last year, there’s absolutely no pressure to have him visible to us. The pressure can come when you get to fight him.
“It’s a problem we didn’t have last year because Marc was in a completely different discipline.”
Asked about Ducati developing their bike to suit Marquez’s preferences, Morbidelli said Luigi Dall’Igna was ‘very democratic’ in his approach.
“We would all love to have a team that develops the bike according to our indications,” he said. “I have to say Ducati are very democratic in this respect and are already very open towards all riders.
“And yet, it’s also right that a manufacturer follows the needs of the fastest rider, the rider who is best at that moment.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio ‘eventually’ wants to beat Marc Marquez
Marquez won 11 out of 18 Grands Prix on Ducati’s GP25 last year before his injury. Morbidelli will ride that bike this year, while Di Giannantonio receives the latest equipment.
Despite the difference in specification, Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli were evenly matched for much of the season, eventually finishing sixth and seventh respectively.
“Having him available, to be able to study him, is certainly helpful,” Di Giannantonio said of Marquez. “We always try to compare the best data we have. Last year, it was Marc’s, obviously.
“It also helped us grow as a team, as a rider. Having a great rider at home, let’s say, is always a help. Having a great champion who’s close motivates me to stay ahead of everyone [else] and eventually try to beat him.”
Rossi expects his riders to win a race this year after failing to do so in 2025. Both are at risk of losing their seats, particularly if they fail to achieve this objective.
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