MotoGP: 'It was a risky plan', says Marc Marquez on Ducati move and Pecco Bagnaia link-up in 2025
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 28/06/2024 at 13:09 GMT
Marc Marquez will take up a Ducati seat alongside Pecco Bagnaia in 2025, and the Spaniard has reflected on the "risky" plan he undertook to secure his move. Marquez has had a positive season to date, sitting third ahead of this weekend's action in Assen, live on TNT Sports. Marquez said the "good atmosphere" inside his current garage gives him hope of narrowing the gap to Jorge Martin.
Marc Marquez.
Image credit: Getty Images
Marc Marquez has opened up to TNT Sports on the workings behind his move to Ducati for the 2025 MotoGP season.
Marquez will join up with Pecco Bagnaia in a mouthwatering combination next campaign, leaving Gresini after one season.
Six-time champion Marquez, 31, currently sits third in the championship, behind Jorge Martin and Bagnaia, as the paddock heads for Assen this weekend, with all the action live on TNT Sports.
"[I'm] happy to be official Ducati rider for 2025/26," Marquez said.
"I imagine it was not an easy decision for Ducati, but at the same time I was very clear and clever in what I want and what I need from the beginning.
"I was just doing my 100 per cent on the race track, try to be professional, try to work hard, and in the end they decide to give me that opportunity.
"Of course, I'm very thankful to Gresini team, because that movement from last year I have the chance to be on the Ducati official for next year, so yea Gresini did a lot, and only one year means a lot in my career."
Reflecting on how he had orchestrated the shift in his career path, Marquez added: "Of course I had a plan, now already it's done.
"It's true that I had a plan and it was a risky plan. Even last year when I took the decision to move to Gresini team, of course my target was try to be ready for 2025.
"If you analyse my words and my approach in the press conference, it was like this.
"This year is 'try to enjoy it'. Of course this year I want to be competitive and I want to fight for the maximum, and I think in Gresini team you can do it.
"But it was [about] trying to prepare well 2025, I had a plan and the plan went in the perfect way."
Marquez currently has a 35-point gap to championship leader Martin, of Prima Pramac Racing, while Bagnaia is 17 points ahead in second.
Marquez feels that he can still challenge the top two though, as he seeks to add to his 85 GP wins.
He said: "Still a lot to say this season, I hope we keep enjoying. If we enjoy it we will be fast.
"Let's see, of course the second part of the season will be tough because we know that on 2024 bikes they will introduce a few things.
"But we have a competitive package, we have a very good atmosphere inside the garage, and this is something that I really like and gives me that mentality to be fast and enjoy it on the race track.
"Of course, we will struggle on some circuits - yes. We will do mistakes - yes. We will try to win a race - yes. Let's see."
--
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement