The Ducati Lenovo Team has officially confirmed Marc Marquez as their second rider after penning a two-year contract that will see him at the factory squad through 2026 MotoGP.
Ducati has announced that six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has signed a two-year deal to ride alongside Francesco Bagnaia on the works team, starting from the 2025 MotoGP season.
The Italian brand was considering whether to remain with Enea Bastianini or bring in either Gresini’s Marc Marquez or Pramac rider Jorge Martin next season. However, Ducati changed its mind after Marquez highlighted that Pramac was not a suitable alternative for him, amid reports last weekend that it preferred to promote Martin.
Now, Martin has agreed to leave the Ducati stable at the end of the year after inking a deal with Aprilia while Marquez switches from Gresini to the factory squad in 2025.
Marquez’s last championship triumph came in 2019 before a grueling few years marred by injuries and disappointing performances on a deteriorating Honda which forced the Spaniard to join Gresini this season in an effort to revive his illustrious career.
The six-time world champion and 85-time GP winner will team up with three-time champion and 32 Grands Prix winner Bagnaia to form the most decorated duo on the MotoGP grid.
“I am very happy to be able to wear the red colours of the factory Ducati team in MotoGP next season,” Marquez said. “Basically, from the first contact with the Desmosedici GP, I enjoyed riding it and adapted well straight away.
“From that moment on, I knew that my goal was to continue this path, to continue to grow, and to move to the team where Pecco Bagnaia has been the World Champion for two years in a row.
“I am happy to be able to take this big step in 2025 and grateful for the trust Ducati has placed in me.
“Finally, I want to thank Nadia, Carlo, Michele, and the entire Gresini Racing family for opening the door of their team to me at a delicate time in my career.
“Now, we will continue to have fun and give it our all in what remains of the current season, which is my priority right now.”
Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna said: “First of all, I want to thank both Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martín for all their work with us over the last few years, and I wish them all the best for the future.
“This season, they have shown they have reached an incredible level, and we are sure they will be in the title fight until the end.
“Deciding on Bagnaia’s new teammate in the Ducati Lenovo Team was not easy, as we had a list of very strong riders to choose from. In the end, our choice fell on an unquestionable talent like Marc Márquez.
“In just a few races, he has managed to adapt perfectly to our Desmosedici GP, and his innate ambition pushes him to grow continuously.
“In the box, we will have two riders who together hold 11 World Titles, and being able to count on their experience and maturity will be invaluable for our growth as well.”
Marquez is currently third in the overall standings, 35 points behind the leader, Martin.
