Marc Márquez praises departing Ducati teammate Pecco Bagnaia

At the World Ducati Week celebration in Misano, Marc Márquez publicly thanked team‑mate Pecco Bagnaia, describing him as “an even better teammate” and saying “Pecco showed me the way.” Márquez, who moved from Gresini to Ducati in 2024, remains under contract with the factory until the end of 2028 and is third in the championship, 18 points behind the leader.

Bagnaia, who joined Ducati in 2019 and secured his seventh world title in 2025 with 11 Grand Prix wins and 14 sprint victories, will leave the team after the current season. He has signed a four‑year deal with Aprilia beginning in 2027. Ducati will fill his seat with KTM star Pedro Acosta from 2027 onward. The ceremony saw Bagnaia receive a standing ovation from the crowd, underscoring the strong rapport built between the riders and the team despite earlier on‑track tensions.

Both riders highlighted Ducati’s unity as a key factor in their success, with Márquez emphasizing the bike’s quality and Bagnaia’s leadership and humility within the garage.