MotoGP: Tardozzi Backs Marquez and Bagnaia in Title Fight

Tardozzi Puts the MotoGP Title Race Squarely on the Riders

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has made clear that the MotoGP world championship outcome rests with the riders, not the machinery. Speaking to GPOne.com, Tardozzi said the factory has full confidence in both Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia to fight for the title, while stressing that the final result depends on how the two riders perform on track.

The comments come as the battle between Ducati's two premier factory riders continues to dominate the paddock conversation. Bagnaia is the reigning champion, having claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Marquez joined the official Ducati Lenovo squad for 2025 after a breakout season with the Gresini satellite team, where he demonstrated he had rediscovered his competitive edge.

Tardozzi's message was straightforward: Ducati has done its job by giving both riders a competitive package. What happens next is up to them.

Two Champions, One Team

Having Marquez and Bagnaia under the same roof is a situation without much precedent in modern MotoGP. Both riders are proven title contenders, and both are on identical machinery. That dynamic naturally raises questions about team orders, internal politics, and who Ducati would favor if the championship came down to the wire.

Tardozzi did not hint at any preference, instead framing the situation as a strength rather than a problem. His confidence in both men signals that Ducati intends to let the season play out on its merits, at least for now.

For Bagnaia, defending the title against a teammate of Marquez's caliber is a different kind of pressure than anything he faced in previous seasons. For Marquez, every strong result builds the case that his dominant years were not simply behind him.

What It Means for the Championship

Tardozzi's public stance carries a practical message for the rest of the grid. If Ducati's own team manager is openly backing two riders to fight for the same title, rival manufacturers face the prospect of splitting points between their own challengers while Ducati fields arguably the two strongest individual talents in the paddock.

April and Pecco's ability to manage their rivalry cleanly, without incidents or team tension spilling over, will be as important as raw lap times. Tardozzi's calm, measured public confidence suggests the team believes that is achievable.

The MotoGP season gives both riders plenty of opportunities to prove him right.