Spain’s Marc Marquez, the six-time MotoGP world champion, will join the Ducati factory team in 2025 and team up with reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, the Italian manufacturer said.
Marquez, who currently rides for Gresini – Ducati’s satellite team, which he joined at the start of 2024 after 11 seasons at Honda – will replace Italian rider Enea Bastianini on a two-year contract, the team announced on Wednesday.
Marquez, 31, has not won a race since October 2021 and lies third in the standings at the midway point of this season.
“I am very happy to be able to wear the red colours of the factory Ducati team in MotoGP next season,” Marquez said.
“I am happy to be able to take this big step in 2025 and grateful for the trust Ducati has placed in me.”
Marquez’s arrival at the reigning world champions was widely expected after the announcement on Monday that up-and-coming Jorge Martin was joining Aprilia from Ducati-Pramac, another of Ducati’s satellite teams.
Marquez, on 136 points, is currently third in the 2024 MotoGP Riders’ World Championship standings, behind Martin, 171 points, and Bagnaia, on 153 points.
Marc Marquez’s move to Ducati is the latest big-name move to be announced in MotoGP, after news of Jorge Martin’s switch to Aprilia was confirmed on Monday. Marquez spoke of his excitement to ride alongside current world champion Francesco Bagnaia for the next two years, while current Ducati factory rider Enea Bastianini is set to be ushered out the door towards KTM.
Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has signed a two-year deal with Ducati and will ride alongside Francesco Bagnaia.
It represents a stunning change of direction from Ducati, who decided not to promote riders’ championship leader Jorge Martin from Pramac to its factory squad.
Marquez has been in impressive form riding a Ducati bike at Gresini during this campaign, and will be promoted to the team’s factory squad as of next year.
Marquez’s switch means there is no room in the team for Enea Bastianini, with the Italian now widely expected to join rival manufacturer KTM in 2025.
Reacting to the news, Marquez said: “I am very happy to be able to wear the red colours of the factory Ducati team in MotoGP next season.
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 Francesco 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 [Padovani], Carlo [Merlini], Michele [Masini], and the entire Gresini Racing family for opening the door of their team to me at a delicate time in my career.
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