Ducati, Tardozzi reveals words said to Marc Marquez at his worst moment

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi, at the microphones of the documentary ‘Volver’ produced by DAZN and dedicated to the rebirth of Marc Marquez, revealed an episode from two years ago that later proved to be crucial for the future of the Catalan rider and the Borgo Panigale team. The number 93 centaur was still at Honda and was struggling on the track with a bike that was not up to his standards: “We were at Sachsenring two years ago – Tardozzi recounted -During free practice, I was on the scooter and watching the riders. At the fourth crash in testing, Marc got up and leaned dejectedly against the guardrail. There’s a picture of that moment”.

“I walked by a few minutes later and told him – because I have always respected Marc Márquez – ‘Marc, maybe it is time for a change'”. A few months later, the Catalan rider would accept the offer of the Ducati Gresini team, leaving Honda and sacrificing the maxi contract with the Japanese stable to return to winning. A plan succeeded to perfection with the passage in 2025 in the official team, just at the orders of Tardozzi: “These are words that had consequences. That is not why he changed, but when I passed, I saw Marc in a really devastating situation, from which only a champion like him could get out, because it could have been the end of his career”.

“Someone like him does not give up – continued Tardozzi -Because champions do not give up. These words came to him, and fortunately, for him and for us, it went like this”. The nine-time world champion on the sidelines of the party in his honor in Cervera explained that he still has a lot to give and that he is not worried by the’injury that has stopped him in this second part of the season: “I am recovering well– said Marquez -. If there are no setbacks, if I do everything right and follow advice, there will be no setbacks. I have to give up vacation because I have to give priority to recovery”

“But I will keep working to be in good shape for the’start of the season. I have to prepare well for the 26th to try to win again. We have to do that. The pressure will be there, just like the other three or four riders who are in contention. We will see what the future holds for me. There are many things I have to handle, but I&#8217m looking forward to continuing. The point is that I always have to listen to my body”.

“Little things keep showing up: after so many crashes, as an athlete you push your body to the limit, and often injuries leave their mark on many riders, forcing them to stop; not because motivation is lacking, it&#8217s their body just can&#8217t take it anymore. This winter I will work to recover, the hunger is certainly not gone: I want to win again. Right now, we can&#8217t wait for 2026”.