Marc Marquez says he felt “very comfortable and very calm” on his first day with the works Ducati team, describing it as the best outfit in present-day MotoGP.
Having signed a two-year contract with the Italian factory, Marquez got his first taste of the Ducati GP25 in the official test at Barcelona on Tuesday.
Completing a total of 49 laps, including some on the championship-winning GP24, Marquez ended up fourth on the timesheets after posting a time of 1m39.454s late in the seven-hour session.
The test was crucial for his preparation as it not only allowed him to acclimate with a development version of the bike that he would be racing in 2025, but also learn to work with new engineers at the factory Ducati team after a year with Gresini’s year-old GP23.
Summing up his thoughts, the six-time champion said: “I made a risky bet a year ago [leaving Honda] and now it was time to finish it off in the factory team. It [getting the Ducati deal] was the best news, and that has been a bit of the idea of the plan.
“The feelings with the team have been good, I felt comfortable from the beginning, very calm.
“The fact that I didn’t change factories or bikes and met a lot of engineers has made me feel comfortable. I’ve had that peace of mind all day.”
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Marquez said he could immediately notice a difference between Ducati and its satellite squad Gresini, as he was now having to follow a more detailed run plan.
“Today was to go back to work a bit like a factory does, with a very strict plan, with everything established and knowing what you have to test and that’s where the rider is 100% available to work for the factory to give the best feedback,” he explained.
Marquez is reserving his judgement on whether there is a big difference between the performance of the title-winning 2023 bike and the new GP25 prototype that is being developed for the 2025 season.
“I have had a jump from ‘23 to ‘25, it is a new bike and the first outing on the track always requires more time to get everything ready,” he said.
“I’ve jumped to ‘24 twice, there are some differences. I think the ‘25 is more competitive, but we have to see it.”
Tuesday also marked the first day Marquez worked directly under Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi, who has always had a soft spot for the Spaniard.
Marquez and Tardozzi represented rival manufacturers in MotoGP during the former’s time at Honda, when he defeated then-Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso to the 2019 title.
“Davide is more in the sporting part and today we focused on technical issues, but without a doubt there are people I have known for more than 10 years and with whom I have always had a good relationship, before as rivals and now in the same team,” he said.
“It doesn’t change, we have a personal relationship. With the people inside the box very comfortable, very precise and 90% of the starts already testing the 2025 bike.”
