Renowned MotoGP rider agent Carlo Pernat has revealed that Francesco Bagnaia was “furious as hell” after learning about Ducati’s signing of Marc Marquez for 2025.
The two-time world champion has always stayed true to the narrative that Ducati’s signing of Marquez for the 2025 MotoGP campaign was met amicably.
Who will regret this split more, Francesco Bagnaia or Ducati?
In fact, Bagnaia recently opened up about how he felt about partnering with Marquez amid the ongoing animosity between the Spaniard and his long-time mentor, Valentino Rossi.
While Bagnaia said he was “completely open” to teaming with Marquez from his very first day in Borgo Panigale, Pernat has revealed that he was with the Italian when he learned of Ducati’s new arrival, and he was not happy in the slightest.
- READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia shares what the ‘atmosphere’ at Ducati has been like since Marc Marquez joined
Carlo Pernat reveals Francesco Bagnaia’s real reaction to Ducati signing Marc Marquez
In a recent interview with Angelo Daniele on his YouTube channel, the legendary former rider agent detailed Bagnaia’s fury in a discussion over the two-time MotoGP world champion’s current situation at Ducati.
Jorge Martin was competing with Marquez for the seat adjacent to Bagnaia at Ducati, with many believing that the former was the favourite due to his status as a title contender at the time in 2024. Despite Martin reigning victorious, Luigi Dall’Igna chose Marquez.
“I remember we were at Mugello, and Gigi told me that it wasn’t Martin, but Marquez,” Pernat revealed, before adding: “I was there with Bagnaia and Bastianini. Bagnaia, my God, was furious as hell!”
Of course, a rider is never going to publicly admit to their dismay over being paired with a teammate with such prowess on two wheels. In fact, it took years for Rossi to reveal his fury with Yamaha over their initial signing of Jorge Lorenzo as a rookie in 2008.
Continuing on the topic of Bagnaia, Pernat says that he would have ended Bagnaia’s affiliation with Ducati much earlier than the Italian’s future move to Aprilia for the 2027 season: “If I’d been his manager, I’d have ended it sooner; I’d have come to an agreement.”
He then theorised that Bagnaia’s downfall has stemmed from seeing Ducati start to revolve around the Spaniard, rather than himself. As the only rider to bring two world championships back to Borgo Panigale, he may have felt like he was owed more from the team.
“For Bagnaia, the team is the same, the technical director is the same, the engineers are the same, and the bikes too,” Pernat said.
“For him, seeing Marquez so close and knowing they’ve developed a part of the bike for Marc was a blow. I would have called it a day at the end of the year, because this year he’s doing exactly the same. We’re seeing it.
“As long as Marquez is around, the year will be like this. Maybe, yes, he’ll win a race or two, but in the end he can’t finish sixth or seventh and be happy. Bagnaia has to win and get on the podium,” he concluded.
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