Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has issued a clear warning to the rest of the MotoGP paddock: Marc Marquez is far from done. In fact, Tardozzi believes the eight-time world champion has re-emerged as the best version of himself — and could be a dominant force in the sport for another four to five years.
Since joining the factory Ducati squad for the 2025 season, Marquez has been in blistering form. He’s won all four sprint races so far and claimed three of the first four grands prix, including a commanding victory at the Qatar GP. That win gave him a 17-point advantage in the championship over his brother, Gresini rider Alex Marquez, while reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia trails by 26 points.
Speaking to AS, Tardozzi hailed Ducati’s current line-up, referring to Marquez as “the king” and Bagnaia as “the prince,” noting the team boasts a combined 11 world titles in its garage.
“Marc lapped in 1m52.5s and 1m52.6s four to five laps from the chequered flag, showing who is king,” Tardozzi said. “Today’s Marc is much better than he was and I imagine he can be dangerous for another four or five years.”
Despite Marquez’s dominance, Tardozzi expects Bagnaia to fight back in 2025. He praised the Italian’s maturity and strategic mindset, suggesting Bagnaia knows when it’s wiser to take second place and protect championship points rather than chase risky overtakes.
Tardozzi didn’t rule out the possibility that Marquez could go on to win the remaining races this year, but reiterated that the factory Ducati team is prepared to rely on the strength of both its riders.
Ducati’s early season form has also translated into domination in the standings. The brand is 99 points ahead in the constructors’ championship, with Honda as its nearest competitor. In the team standings, Ducati leads the next non-Ducati squad by a massive 174 points.
With Marquez currently 85 points ahead of the next-best non-Ducati rider, LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco, the message is clear — Ducati is setting the pace, and Marquez is leading the charge.
