Valentino Rossi never managed to win a MotoGP race with Ducati. His bombshell move from Yamaha at the end of 2010 backfired as he endured what, at the time, was the worst season of his premier-class career.
Rossi only managed three podiums for the Italian team before returning to Yamaha in 2013. With legendary teammate Nicky Hayden struggling too, it was clear that the problem lay with Ducati.
That’s why Rossi isn’t in the conversation for the greatest Ducati rider ever. Casey Stoner and Francesco Bagnaia feature after bringing world championships back to Bologna, but the Doctor wasn’t furnished with the equipment to do so.
STATVOL.Races35Wins0Poles0Podiums3Points302DNFs4Valentino Rossi’s Ducati career in numbers
In 2025, Marc Marquez is raising the bar for the brand. He has won eight of the first 12 races, and 11 Sprints, and could win the title with several races to spare.
Ducati have a ‘much better’ setup with Marc Marquez than they did with Valentino Rossi
In an interview with Marca, Ducati’s global marketing director Patrizia Cianetti was asked about the difference between Rossi’s 2012 arrival and the 2025 signing of Marquez from Gresini.
She acknowledged that they were much weaker when they acquired Rossi, who was by that point already a seven-time premier-class champion. They couldn’t compete with the Japanese manufacturers.
But now the duopoly of Honda and Yamaha is at an end. Jorge Martin’s 2024 triumph, on the satellite Pramac bike, extended Ducati’s title streak to three in a row.
They were extremely dominant last year, winning all but two races (one Grand Prix and one Sprint). While rival manufacturers have made slight gains this season, they’ve still only been beaten three times.
“They were very different times,” Cianetti explained. “Let’s say the experience with Valentino was a bit unique. It was something very complex, actually . The company, at this point, is very different.
“Ducati today is the best Ducati ever, beloved by fans. The products are extraordinary, the quality is incredible. It’s a very different package; therefore, the setup right now is much better.”
Luigi Dall’Igna’s superb message to Marc Marquez in Ducati garage after Brno win
Marquez has shown an elite mentality in 2025, refusing to let complacency creep in despite his dominance. He’s won the last five races, and it seems that only a crash could end that run.
Intriguingly, Marquez was the only Ducati rider on the podium during the Czech GP weekend. While they’ve still scored 29 top-three finishes from a possible 36, they may now become increasingly reliant on his talents to stay on top.
As he acknowledged in the Brno garage, Luigi Dall’Igna has now realised why Ducati haven’t won more titles. Marquez is regarded as an ‘alien’ rider who can take a bike beyond its anticipated ceiling.
Andrea Dovizioso finished as the runner-up to the Ant of Cervera for three straight years between 2017 and 2019. Dall’Igna and co. have now seen exactly what they were missing.