In the world of MotoGP, a picture is often worth a thousand words, especially when it captures a seminal moment between two future giants of the sport. Two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia has shared the story behind a viral photo from 2010 of him posing with his future Ducati teammate Marc Marquez. As they unveiled the flamboyant livery of their 2025 bike in Italy, the pair delved into this unexpected chapter of their shared past.
While Francis Bagnaia et Marc Marquez are set to form a dynamic duo within the team Ducati In 2025, the two champions revealed an amusing anecdote about their beginnings. A photo taken in 2010 bears witness to their first meeting, well before their epic duels in MotoGP.
In an official interview at Madonna di Campiglio, moderated by commentator Gavin Emmett of TNT Sport, the two drivers were asked about this famous image. bagnaia, now a two-time MotoGP world champion, revealed the story behind the moment: “ I remember that day. It was the season he won his first title. We were there for the second or third test of the season with the Monlau Competicion team in Barcelona and Marc was there because he was training with the supermoto"
bagnaia clarified that he had asked for a photo with Marquez, the young Spanish prodigy of the time who had just had an impressive season in 125cc. I was sharing the box with Lorenzo Baldassarri that season. I just asked for a photo because He was a young Spanish pilot who was doing a fantastic job. with KTM, and my team manager told me 'we have to be interested in him this season' because I think we're going to get there. And he did."
Pecco Bagnaia remembers this moment exactly, Marc Marquez not at all
Marc Marquez, for his part, did not remember exactly that precise day, but he recognized the importance of Monlau Competicion in his career: " I know he was racing for Monlau, and I had a very close relationship with Monlau Competicion. But I don't remember exactly that day.. »
At that time, Marquez was already on the rise, winning the 125cc title in 2010 with Derbi, before moving on to Moto2 in 2011. Bagnaia, meanwhile, made his Grand Prix debut in 2013, the year when Marquez became world champion in MotoGP. We had to wait 2016 so that bagnaia wins his first Grand Prix victory, before winning in Moto2 and finally joining the factory team Ducati in 2021.
The irony of this photo is that in 2025, these two drivers, who were at the time strangers to each other, will team up under the colors of Ducati, one of the most anticipated duos in the paddock. While they have already faced each other on the track in 2024 in memorable battles, the friendship and camaraderie displayed in this interview shows the complicity that has developed over the years.
