The reigning double world champion and the Gresini rider locked horns in final Sunday’s 25-lap Spanish Grand Prix for the victory in an exciting battle.
Bagnaia finally got here out on high, although solely by 0.372 seconds to Marquez, who celebrated his first grand prix podium as a Gresini Ducati rider.
The pair have clashed on monitor a number of instances earlier than, with Bagnaia’s first MotoGP win at Aragon in 2021 coming after intense stress from the eight-time world champion.
In Portugal this yr, the pair have been battling for the highest 5 when the collided controversially.
As each enthused about their victory battle, Marquez stated: “For me, as I stated in Portimao to him, it’s a pleasure to combat in opposition to the world champion and the reference within the Ducati group.
“[In the Spanish GP], yet another time, I used to be on his stage and I used to be combating in opposition to him.
“I had the pace sufficient to attempt to overtake. So, for me already, it’s a pleasure to be taught from him.
“Nonetheless, he has some stronger factors than me, however let’s see if sooner or later I could be a little bit higher and nearer to him.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff, Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Staff podium race
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
With championship chief Jorge Martin crashing out of the grand prix, Marquez presently sits 32 factors behind in sixth within the standings.
This comes after Marquez, who certified on pole at Jerez, felt like his adaptation to the GP23 had “completed”.
However after 4 rounds of the season, the Gresini rider – who final gained the title in 2019 – says “it’s too early” to be eager about the standings.
“For me it’s too early,” he stated of the championship. “It’s not like ‘no, I don’t need the championship’. But it surely’s too early to consider the championship as a result of I do know, and I already perceive, that there can be race tracks the place I’ll wrestle loads.
“However let’s see. Nonetheless in the intervening time we have to maintain going, with this bike I really feel a few of my sturdy factors of my driving model are a bit bit weaker, however one of many weak factors is a bit bit stronger.”
