Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia has had the opportunity of working with two of the biggest legends in MotoGP history, Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi. In a recent interview, the Italian disclosed what the two fierce rivals have in common.
As a long-time member of the VR46 Riders’ Academy, Francesco Bagnaia’s career has been aided by the wisdom of the nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing world champion, Valentino Rossi.
In fact, Bagnaia is actually the most successful member of the programme designed to offer support to up-and-coming Italian motorcycle racers, with two MotoGP world championships to his name as of 2026.
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Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Bagnaia was given the ultimate challenge of being partnered up with arguably the best competitor currently on the grid in Marc Marquez, who also happens to be The Doctor’s infamous arch nemesis in MotoGP.
The Italian has disclosed what he has learnt from both of the sport’s biggest icons after being able to work closely with them during his premier class career.
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Francesco Bagnaia reveals the one thing that Marc Marquez has in common with Valentino Rossi
In an interview with GPOne in between the first and second rounds of the 2026 MotoGP championship, Bagnaia was asked a series of questions about how his career has been aided by several legends that he has crossed paths with.
They include Rossi, Marquez, and the first MotoGP rider to ever bring a championship back to Borgo Panigale: Casey Stoner.
“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity,” the Italian began. “In sporting terms, Valentino has definitely been the person who has helped me the most, along with Carlo [Casabianca], my trainer.
“I try to get the most out of everyone. Casey has been there for me at times, and his help makes all the difference. Having Marc in the pits is a plus; I can look at his data and talk to him.”
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#63 was then asked what he has learnt from each of the legends named, to which he revealed the one thing that Marquez and Rossi have in common, despite their seemingly never-ending feud.
He said, “Vale and Marc have one thing in common: determination. On the track, they’ll fight tooth and nail to stay ahead of you.
“I’ve never raced against Casey, but he had incredible flair; he made the difference by managing to adapt to different situations.”
Francesco Bagnaia doesn’t think Marc Marquez needs to resolve his feud with Valentino Rossi
As a staunch ally of Rossi’s, Bagnaia recently fielded a question over the feud that the former MotoGP star currently still shares with Marquez.
Bagnaia was in Moto3 at the time things reached a flash point between Rossi and Marquez, with the events of the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix still standing as one of the most controversial incidents in MotoGP history.
While Bagnaia had taken Rossi’s side in the spat at first, he has seen both sides of the coin as he has matured into a world champion in the sport.
After being asked whether his current Ducati counterpart, Marquez, will ever hash things out with Rossi, Bagnaia simply noted that he doesn’t feel like he needs to.
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