MotoGP: Marc Marquez Targets Championship Glory with Ducati

Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has joined Ducati, aiming to win a seventh title and bring home the riders', constructors', and teams' world titles for the Italian team.

Marc Marquez, a six-time MotoGP world champion, has set his sights on securing a seventh title, which would tie him with his legendary rival Valentino Rossi. Marquez, 31, was officially unveiled by Ducati on Monday, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his illustrious career. The Italian manufacturer's factory racing team also revealed its new Desmosedici GP25 bike, with Marquez proudly donning the iconic red Ducati colors.

Marquez made no secret of his ambition to win more titles, building on his impressive performances last season with Ducati satellite outfit Gresini. He finished third in the championship, behind Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, and secured three Grand Prix victories, his first in three years. This resurgence came after a prolonged injury nightmare, which began with a fractured arm in 2020. “I've fought many battles against Ducati in the past but, after getting my smile back last season, I'm here this year and it's a real privilege,” Marquez said, reflecting on his journey to joining Ducati.

Marquez signed a two-season deal with Ducati in June, marking a significant milestone in his career. With his sights firmly set on a seventh world title, Marquez is eager to make a strong impact alongside his new teammate, Francesco Bagnaia. The duo forms a formidable partnership, with Marquez's experience and Bagnaia's youthful energy poised to drive Ducati's championship ambitions in the 2025 season.

Marc Marquez expressed his enthusiasm for joining Ducati, emphasizing the team's impressive performance in recent years. “It's great to come to such a big MotoGP team, a team which in the last four or five years in particular has been hugely important,” Marquez said. He also highlighted the team's ambitious goals for the upcoming season. “We want to win the riders', constructors' and teams' world titles.”

Marquez stressed the importance of teamwork and collaboration with his new teammate, Francesco Bagnaia. “We need to work together as a team so that if I don't win Pecco (Bagnaia) wins and vice-versa,” Marquez explained. He expressed optimism about the upcoming season, saying, “I think it's going to be a great season and I hope to bring home plenty of points and wins - let's see where we finish at the end of the season.”

The partnership between Marquez and Bagnaia is notable, given Bagnaia's mentor, Valentino Rossi, has a complicated history with Marquez. Rossi previously described Marquez as a “dirty” rider who intentionally hindered his chances of winning the 2015 title. Bagnaia chose not to comment on Rossi's remarks, which referenced the infamous collision between Marquez and Rossi at the 2015 Malaysian MotoGP. The incident ultimately contributed to Jorge Lorenzo's championship victory that year.