Double world champion Francesco Bagnaia heads into this weekend’s Austrian MotoGP aiming for a hat-trick, determined to continue Ducati’s reign at the RedBullRing circuit. The second half of the season kicks off with the 11th race, where ‘Pecco’ finds himself just three points behind championship leader Jorge Martin. The championship fight takes an intriguing turn with Bagnaia’s soon-to-be ex-teammate Enea Bastianini currently sitting in third place, 49 points adrift, after his impressive Silverstone double win five weeks ago.
Ducati’s decision not to renew Bastianini’s contract for 2025 has been a talking point, with the manufacturer choosing to overlook Martin, who rides for its satellite Pramac team, in favor of Marc Marquez. Marquez, the six-time former champion with Honda, has experienced a resurgence since joining Ducati’s Gresini outfit this year, recovering from a period of injuries and struggling bike performance.
When asked about the implications of having Marquez as his teammate in 2025, Bagnaia responded with a mix of humor and caution. “I think it could be super good, or a disaster,” he chuckled. “It could be a disaster in case we start to scream or we start to have some ‘discussions’, but we are both very smart and he will adapt perfectly.”
Marquez, who joined Bagnaia for the interview, expressed his hope for a positive working relationship within the garage. “I think the (inter-team) competition increases the level of the riders,” he said. “I wish to have a good level, like this I can learn from him, especially as he’s the top Ducati rider.”
Marquez boasts extensive experience riding alongside world champions like Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, and Joao Mir during his time at Honda. “You can learn from them and they can learn from you,” he said. “But I think next year I need to learn more from Pecco because he’s the fastest guy out there.”
Martin, who will be riding for Aprilia next season, is eager to demonstrate his worth to Ducati with another strong performance at the RedBullRing, a circuit where he secured his first MotoGP win in 2021. “For sure the circuit is really nice for Ducati. It’s going to be difficult but I had a good weekend in Silverstone,” said the championship leader.
Bagnaia, who emerged victorious in Spielberg in both 2022 and 2023, recognizes the track’s suitability for his Ducati. “It’s one of the best tracks for our bike,” he said.
Commenting on the tight title race with Martin, Bagnaia emphasized the importance of looking ahead. “To be leading the championship now is not that important – it’s like starting the season over again, we have 10 races to go and only three points in it.” The upcoming Austrian MotoGP promises to be a captivating event, filled with anticipation, rivalry, and the potential for major shifts in the championship standings.
