Ducati coach tells Francesco Bagnaia to copy what Alex Marquez did as Marc Marquez’s teammate

In the high-pressure world of MotoGP, subtle shifts in mindset, technique, and strategy can make all the difference. That principle underlies recent comments from Ducati’s crew chief, Marco Rigamonti, who has extended a challenge—and an opportunity—to Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia. Rigamonti suggests that Bagnaia would benefit by following in the footsteps of Alex Márquez, whose approach as Marc Márquez’s teammate offers lessons that might help Bagnaia close the gap in this intense championship season. Drawing from recent reports, here is what we know and why it could matter greatly for Bagnaia and Ducati.

Rigamonti’s Offer and Advice
Marco Rigamonti, crew chief for Marc Márquez, has publicly stated that he would be willing to assist Bagnaia by sharing insights he’s gained over the years. He emphasized that while rivalry on the track is inevitable when teammates both press for results, the true edge comes from cooperation—not conflicts. Rigamonti remarked:

“We, as a team, always work together, and it helps each other. Yes, I would help [Bagnaia] because what I’ve seen over the years is that in the end, on the track, the difference is made by the riders.”

This is not a vague or passive encouragement. It is a call to action for Bagnaia to borrow from the experience of Alex Márquez—his choices, preparation, mindset, and perhaps the way Alex aligned himself within the structure of Ducati’s racing program.

What Alex Márquez Has Done Well
While Alex Márquez is not the one riding the factory Ducati alongside Marc, several developments in his season offer examples that Bagnaia might copy:

• Strong results with satellite or non-factory support: Alex has impressed by performing strongly even when not on the “factory-spec” bike. His consistency and ability to maximize opportunities show that mindset and preparation can offset minor technical disadvantages.

• Proactive in seeking parity: Alex “ordered” a Ducati with specifications that only Marc Márquez and Bagnaia had—showing that he is not satisfied with the bare minimum. He pushed for the same kind of equipment as his more famous teammates.

• Learning and adapting: Alex has shown the ability to learn from his environment, from conditions, and from teammates—even ones as formidable as Marc Márquez. He has taken what he can in terms of setup, feedback, and racecraft. That attitude of continual learning is something Rigamonti appears to be pointing toward as beneficial to Bagnaia.

Where Bagnaia Is Struggling—and What to Copy
Bagnaia, despite his status and previous successes, has not had an easy ride this season. Marc Márquez has been in dominant form, and Bagnaia has been chasing—not only the championship, but consistency, rhythm, confidence in the bike, and track feeling. Some of his struggles have stemmed from adapting to Ducati’s GP25 machine, particularly in how it behaves under braking, through corners, and with feedback through front-end grip.

Here are some of the things Bagnaia might borrow from Alex’s approach:

• Pushing for better equipment parity: Just like Alex pushing for a bike with similar specifications to Marc and Bagnaia, Bagnaia could more loudly demand or work with Ducati to fine-tune his machine so it better suits his style. Minor gains here (brake feel, front-end feedback, tyre usage) may compound over a season.

• Being proactive about feedback and setup: Alex has made the most of every test, every tyre compound, every setup tweak. Bagnaia may find that a sharper focus on gathering detailed input—how the bike feels, where it’s weak, what other riders are doing—can help him accelerate his adaptation to GP25. Rigamonti’s offer to help is tied to this: he sees value in sharing data and insights across riders.

• Mental approach and resilience: Alex seems willing to work from behind, adapt, and make the most of challenging weekends. For Bagnaia, who is used to being at the front, accepting the momentary disadvantage while staying focused will be key. Emulating Alex’s resilience—keeping up morale, staying analytical, staying ready to seize opportunities—could shift momentum.

Challenges and Risks of Copying
Of course, copying is never perfect, especially in MotoGP where riding style is deeply personal. As one analyst noted, Marc’s riding in left-hand corners, throttle control, braking points—all these things are difficult to replicate. The physical technique, the confidence, the instinctive reactions—those are often built over long experience, specific to the individual.

Also, Bagnaia has his own strengths—things that made him world champion before—and copying too much risks losing the things that make him special. There is also the psychological strain: being seen as trying to imitate someone can carry weight, particularly when expectations are high.

Potential Upside
If Bagnaia can successfully take on lessons from Alex Márquez’s path, there are big potential gains. He might:

• Close the gap to Marc Márquez, both in outright pace and in race finishes

• Extract more performance from the GP25 in tricky settings (corners, braking zones, rear-tyre wear)

• Expand his adaptability so he’s less vulnerable in changing conditions or when setups aren’t perfect

• Increase his confidence and reduce frustration, handing tighter margins to his favor

Conclusion
The suggestion by Ducati’s crew chief for Bagnaia to “copy what Alex Márquez did” isn’t about imitation for its own sake. It is about learning smarter, being proactive, demanding excellence—from self, from team, from equipment—and approaching each weekend with a mindset tuned to incremental gains. Bagnaia already has the talent, the experience, and the team support. If he can integrate some of what Alex Márquez has done—adapting, demanding, staying resilient—he may find the formula to not only challenge Marc Márquez more closely but also fight for another world title.