MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has suggested seve🌌ral ﷺDucati riders “feel betrayed” by Ducati signing Marc Marquez to its factory team for 2025.

In a rider market bombshell at the start of June, Ducaಞti announced it had sig♐ned Marquez to join Francesco Bagnaia at its factory team after the eight-time world champion refused a works bike at Pramac.

It came as Ducati had originally elected to promoted Martin, who subsequently signed with Aprilia for 2025 𒆙when informed of the Bol🤪ogna-based marque’s U-turn during the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Ducati’s decision at the time was thought to have upset the Valentino Rossi camp, withꦬ Bagnaia a product of the VR46 Academy, and the veteran Italian hav🥂ing a strained relationship with Marquez following numerous incidents over the years.

In an interview with L’Equipe, Rossi offered a critical opꦰinion o⛎f the matter.

“I have not finished understanding it,” he began.

“Ducati had an interesting system in place, wit🥀h a pyramid that allow💯ed young riders to progress.

“That's how Pecco was brought up, and﷽ both Martin and Marco Bezzecchi were also waiting for it. And suddenly Ducati deci𓂃ded to bring Marc in.

“It's normal that [the riders] feel betrayed. From one moment to the next they no longer count, so no wondeℱr they consider the choice of Marquez a joke.”

Rossi believes Bagnaia is capable of standing up against Marquez on equal ♛machinery in 2025 and doesn’t need his arrival as a team-mate to prove his quality as a MotoGP champion.

“Pecco is ready,” Rossi added.

“He is making a differenc𝐆e and has managed to raise the bar.

“He is a two-time world champion and is fighting for a third title, but, in my opinion, he didn't need Marc in the🗹 box to prove that he is number one.”

The fallout from this also led to Pramac signing with Yamaha as ღa satelꦅlite partner for 2025, with Rossi’s squad now getting factory Ducati support for Fabio Di Giannantonio.

VR46 protege Bezzecchi will also join Martin at the factory Aprilia team🍷 next year.