Nadia Padovani reveals what Marc Marquez was banned from doing when he rode for Gresini

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Nadia Padovani has revealed what Marc Marquez was banned from doing when he was riding for Gresini. 

Marquez, 33, is a seven-time MotoGP world champion, having won the title in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2025.

The Spaniard rode for Honda from 2013 to 2023 before joining the Ducati family in 2024.

Prior to the 2024 campaign, it was revealed that Marquez would race for Ducati satellite team, Gresini.

Marquez represented Gresini for one season, finishing third in the standings before moving to the Ducati factory team in 2025.

Marc Marquez is the first rider EVER to hit 100 wins and 100 poles, but is he better in qualifying or the race? 💯

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Nadia Padovani reveals what Marc Marquez was banned from doing at Gresini

Recalling the time she plotted a move to sign Marquez for Gresini, team boss Padovani admitted that she was ‘scared’.

Padovani stated that she did not have a Plan B if Marquez’s move failed, and also revealed that she told the Spaniard he would not be allowed to bring his own confidants into the team. 

As reported by Speedweek, Padovani said: “In October, there are hardly any riders left on the market. We risked not finding a rider at all. There isn’t one (Plan B). There isn’t one. This had to happen. I believed this would work out, and it did.

“I asked him (Team coordinator Michele Masini) if we were even capable of managing a rider of this calibre. I was scared. I didn’t want to live with the accusation that we had driven him away.

“We told him: This is our team; it’s well-established; we feel comfortable together. You can’t come in and change the system.”

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Padovani went on to reveal a prank Gresini played on Marquez during his first photoshoot with the team.

She claimed that a fake spider was put in one of Marquez’s trouser legs on his racing suit.

Padovani said: “As a welcome gift, they had stuffed a fake spider down one of his trouser legs.

“When he put on the suit with the Gresini Racing logo, he looked at me and said: ‘Now it’s no longer Photoshopped. Now our story begins.’”

When asked what stood out about Marquez, Padovani said that the Spaniard provided ‘so much data’ for the team and praised his ability to ride ‘beyond the limits’.

She added: “It was a masterclass for us. He provided so much data that I would gladly pass this information on to all the riders who come to us.

“He rides beyond the limits of human capability. There are only a handful of riders like him. That’s the most difficult quality in our sport – and his greatest strength.”