Ducati Team Manager Davide Tardozzi lavished praise on Marc Márquez following the Spaniard’s commanding victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix, while delivering a pointed response to Pecco Bagnaia’s recent criticisms of the Ducati machinery. Márquez’s triumph in Sepang marked his seventh win of the season for the Italian manufacturer, further cementing his remarkable form this year.

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Speaking to DAZN immediately after the race, Tardozzi hailed Márquez’s performance as exemplary. “I have to congratulate Marc because he delivered yet another perfect race. A champion like him has never existed in any era. He keeps surprising us more and more, and his physical limits are no problem thanks to his incredible mentality. I believe the Marc-Ducati partnership is very important,” the Ducati Lenovo Team Manager declared enthusiastically.

However, Tardozzi’s comments took a more critical tone when addressing Pecco Bagnaia’s recent remarks about the Ducati bike’s lack of development. Bagnaia, who is enduring his most challenging MotoGP season, suggested that the team had not made any meaningful progress on the bike since the Japanese Grand Prix. “Honestly, I have no idea what he’s referring to,” Tardozzi responded to Sky Sports. “Nothing we’ve done recently, not even in the last year, has improved Bagnaia’s performance.”

Tardozzi acknowledged Bagnaia’s inherent talent but revealed a troubling lack of clarity within Bagnaia’s own crew. “We know he’s a champion with innate speed, but right now even his team principal and electronic engineer, the very people with whom he won two World Championships, don’t have a clear strategy. We’ve tried everything, but we’re at a standstill.”

Despite the difficulties, Ducati remains committed to supporting Bagnaia. “I’ve always said we will never stop helping him. We’ve even implemented changes designed exclusively for him, but unfortunately, we still haven’t found what he needs. The bike is the same one he used to achieve those results. It’s identical to the bike Marc rode to victory today and the one Alex Márquez used to reach the podium. We have no idea what’s going on,” concluded Tardozzi.

This candid revelation underscores the stark contrast within Ducati’s rider lineup this season, with Márquez flourishing while Bagnaia struggles to unlock the bike’s potential. Tardozzi’s unfiltered assessment sheds light on the internal challenges facing the factory as they seek solutions ahead.