Marc Marquez has said he feels for his struggling Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia, while endorsing Pedro Acosta as the ideal rider to succeed him in the factory squad. The stance illustrates the generational shift under way in Ducati’s MotoGP camp.

When Marquez joined Ducati’s official team in 2025, expectations were high for a formidable pairing alongside Bagnaia. Their trajectories have since diverged. Marquez has amassed multiple victories, whereas Bagnaia continues to wrestle with persistent difficulties, particularly with front-end feel on the bike.

With four races remaining in the 2026 season, Bagnaia is ninth in the championship standings, a far cry from his earlier form.

Marquez on Bagnaia’s difficulties

In an interview with Motosprint, Marquez expressed his regret over Bagnaia’s plight: “I am really sorry for the situation Bagnaia is going through because he is a brilliant man, and when I arrived at Ducati, he welcomed me with open arms.” The statement stands out as a rare show of solidarity rather than the usual intra-team rivalry between champions.

Marquez remains available to support Bagnaia but respects the Italian rider’s preference to rely primarily on his close circle. “He has his own group of friends, but we talk, and he knows I’m here to try to help as well. Sometimes a rider prefers to be with his own people. We talk discreetly.” Marquez’s cautious approach reveals his understanding that he cannot directly solve Bagnaia’s technical or psychological challenges.

Looking ahead, Bagnaia’s move to Aprilia in 2027 alongside Marco Bezzecchi promises a fresh start. Adapting to Aprilia’s 850cc bike and Pirelli tyres will present a significant challenge for all riders switching manufacturers.

Ducati bets on Acosta

Ducati is already placing its bets on Pedro Acosta as Marquez’s eventual successor, and Marquez fully supports the decision: “On a personal level, there are many differences between us, but on the track, he is a formidable competitor.”

Acosta arrives with clear ambitions: not merely to learn but to win. Marquez embraces this as a natural progression: “Generations pass, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Drawing a parallel with football legend Lionel Messi facing younger talents, Marquez highlights how experience maintains its edge while youthful speed imposes new demands. “Ducati has chosen the ideal rider for its future.”

The appraisal acknowledges two truths: Bagnaia deserves better than his current downturn, but Ducati cannot halt its sporting project waiting for his revival. With Acosta, the Italian manufacturer is already shaping the post-Marquez era, even as the reigning champion aims to extend his dominance.

Marquez offers personal support to Bagnaia without downplaying the difficulties, while validating Acosta’s recruitment as the future of Ducati. The message is clear: compassion belongs to the present, but the future belongs to a new generation.