Marquez Lauds Bagnaia as Rivals Battle for MotoGP Supremacy

Marc Marquez expressed his admiration for Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, referring to him as the standout of the team. The 2024 MotoGP season saw Marquez and Bagnaia engage in thrilling battles, with their most recent showdown taking place at the Spanish Grand Prix. Bagnaia emerged victorious in a close race, finishing just 0.372s ahead of Marquez, who secured his first podium with Gresini Ducati. However, their previous encounter in Portimão resulted in a controversial collision, leading both riders to not score points. Speaking after the race in Jerez, Marquez praised Bagnaia, stating that it is a privilege to compete against the current world champion and Ducati’s leading rider. Marquez acknowledged that he still has areas to improve, but hopes to close the gap between him and Bagnaia in the future. Currently, Marquez is trailing championship leader Jorge Martin by 32 points, but he believes it is too early to focus on a title challenge. Marquez recognizes that there will be tracks where he will struggle, but he remains determined to keep pushing forward. While some aspects of his riding style may be weaker with his current bike, Marquez also acknowledges that he has certain skills that can be leveraged.