Bagnaia insists he will remain a “gentleman” in MotoGP despite criticism from Tardozzi

francesco bagnaia He has insisted that he will continue to act like a “gentleman” in MotoGP despite criticism for his lack of aggression on the track.

During his championship fight with Pramac george martin Bagnia was instructed last year Ducati Team Manager David Tardozzi has been told to “stop being a gentleman” or risk being “broken” by rivals in a strongly worded message.

The comments came after Martin pounced on the factory Ducati rider at the start of the sprint race in Thailand and scored vital points in an ultimately successful bid for his first title.

Tardozzi said during a private meeting, “Peco, Martin had the audacity to oust you.”

“He was already positioned on the grid like this (pointing towards him). He had already decided that he was going to upset you. He did what he had to do.

“That’s what you have to do tomorrow (in the main race). You can’t be a gentleman all the time. You can’t just be because these guys are kicking your ass.”

Tardozzi’s words now take on extra significance for six-time champions Bagrationi mark marquez Joining the factory Ducati squad to replace anea bastianini,

Marquez is notorious for not giving his rivals even an inch of chance on the track and is keen to return to the top of MotoGP after successfully recovering from injury in 2020 and winning races on a satellite Gresini bike last year.

But 28-year-old Bagnaia wants to remain true to his character in MotoGP, insisting that Marquez’s arrival in the Ducati garage does not affect him.

“I’ll let (Marquez) be a gentleman,” he told the official MotoGP YouTube channel. “I’ll be a gentleman and I’ll always be that way and I won’t be changing any time soon.”

Bagnaia, who missed out on the 2024 title despite winning 11 out of 20 Grands Prix, admitted he needs to improve in some areas this year. A series of errors in the sprint race, coupled with bad luck, meant he finished 10 points short of usurping Martin on the Pramac-entered Ducati.

But despite admitting that he has to improve his riding, he doesn’t feel the need to make any particular changes in his approach to the championship.

Asked if MotoGP will see a ‘new Peko’ in 2025, the Italian replied: “Better not because it is better not to change myself with the results in mind. In any case, I just have to improve myself and a Just a small step to take.”

Marquez’s arrival creates the kind of ‘super team’ not seen in MotoGP valentino rossi And george lorenzo Raced as team-mate for Yamaha in the 2010s.

Bagnaia said he was “very excited” to share the garage with Marquez, before adding: “This is absolutely the strongest team on the grid.

“I think we can take advantage of that. We can try to learn from some things about Mark, I think he will adapt very well to the team.

“(In) the first part during testing we will work together, try to improve the bike and try to be ready for the first race. Then what happens will happen.

“I have full confidence and belief that we have the ability to be first and second in every race and the bike will allow us to do that. It will be important that we try to do that. Whoever wins will win but the ability is there.” ,