Marc Marquez acknowledged the support of Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi after both he and his brother Alex were booed by sections of the Italian crowd during the Italian Grand Prix podium ceremonies.
The boos first rang out on Saturday after Marc’s Sprint victory, prompting Tardozzi to approach fans in the grandstands to make his point: Marc now rides for the factory Ducati team, and a win for him is a win for Ducati—and Italy.
After winning Sunday’s grand prix as well, Marquez once again faced jeers on the podium. In the post-race press conference, he addressed the situation and expressed appreciation for Tardozzi’s actions.
“I can’t control it,” Marquez said. “But I really appreciate that gesture from Davide Tardozzi, who tried to defend me.
“In the end, Davide isn’t defending me as a person—he’s defending Ducati riders. That includes me, Pecco [Bagnaia], Bastianini, and Miller in the past. He’s a really good team manager, and he was standing up for me.”
Marquez also noted that while the fans’ support for Bagnaia was understandable, booing other riders crossed a line—especially when it came to his brother.
“When Alex went out on the podium and was booed too… he didn’t do anything wrong. He just shares the surname. That’s tough,” he added.
Despite the crowd reaction, Marquez remained focused on his performance and praised the passion of the Mugello fans while encouraging respect for all riders.
