The days are counting down to the start of the MotoGP season, and all eyes are on the Ducati Lenovo Team. With a powerhouse duo like Marc Márquez and Pecco Bagnaia, who together hold 11 titles, they’re looking like the team to beat. Their preseason performance has left no doubt about their candidacy for the top spot.
The messages coming from Burgo Panigale are overwhelmingly positive, especially after the preseason tests in Thailand, where Márquez emerged as a top contender. Despite this, Márquez himself points to Bagnaia as a favorite, and the Italian returns the compliment. For now, everything seems to be going smoothly, but there are voices warning of a potentially volatile coexistence between these two champions.
With their impressive palmarés and qualities, the Ducati duo has everything they need to succeed. They boast different personalities, numerous titles, and undeniable speed. In terms of relevance, they’re right up there with other legendary pairings like Lorenzo-Rossi on Yamaha or Márquez-Pedrosa and Doohan-Chrivillé in Honda. However, history shows that such pairings often lead to setbacks, which is only natural in a sport where competition is fierce.
Historical comparison
Mattia Pasini, who has experience working with different personalities in the smaller World Cup categories, believes that when two champions share equipment, tension is inevitable. “It isn’t true if Márquez says nothing will happen. It is natural that when two champions want to win and are fighting for the title, they will clash at some point,” he explains. Pasini references the past, citing examples like Rossi and Lorenzo, or Senna and Prost, where coexistence between champions ultimately led to conflicts. He insists that history doesn’t lie, and there have been problems in the past.
Pasini may have a unique perspective, not being closely linked to Valentino Rossi’s academy, where Bagnaia trains. However, he sees the risks. “I am skeptical about the environment. Although Pecco is intelligent enough and perhaps the only one who can endure Márquez in the team,” he analyzes, slightly leaning in favor of the two-time champion. The truth, however, will be dictated by the track.
Last year’s MotoGP season was marked by intense battles that could be repeated this year. Márquez and Bagnaia have already clashed, notably in Portimao, and were stars in other course fights, such as in Malaysia. If Ducati maintains its winter speed, we can expect to see these two favorites going head-to-head on the track once again.