Manuel Poggiali interview: “I coach rider, Marquez, Bagnaia and Aldeguer”

If Ducati still dominated the MotoGP World Championship, it is also thanks to Manuel Poggiali. The San Marino rider, 125 world champion in 2001 and king of the 250 two years later, is the coach rider for the Lenovo and Gresini teams. During each session, he follows the riders from the side of the track. Then, together with other collaborators, he identifies strengths and weaknesses. Patient, meticulous work, just like Manuel’s character. The results speak for themselves: Marc Marquez MotoGP champion, the Lenovo factory team winner of the Team World Championship, Gresini Racing best independent team.

Exceptional numbers. Manuel, did 2025 go according to your predictions?

“I had a different preventive vision, which was not reflected in reality. From Ducati’s point of view it was a season worth remembering. The riders, manufacturers and teams World Championships ended in Borgo Panigale. Much of the credit goes to the Lenovo team, but the Gresini team also deserves applause. And there is another fact to consider: in the top 8 places of the MotoGP World Championship, after 22 rounds, there are six riders with Ducati”.

First he named the Gresini team. Did you expect this growth from Alex Marquez?

“I have been working with Alex for three years, I know his potential. He has faced a very difficult path, but, in my opinion, his value is unquestionable. He has incredible room for growth. This year he has found a series of favorable conditions: a balanced bike, greater awareness of his weapons, better knowledge of the team. Thus he has achieved extraordinary results.”

And Aldeguer? How do you rate your season?

“When a rookie has a similar season, with podiums and his first victory, he deserves nothing but huge compliments. Also because we have to take into account the current level of MotoGP. At the start of the season the goal was to be the best rookie. Then Fermin’s maturation along the way was incredible. He did extraordinary things, like overtaking Acosta in Austria.”

Let’s move on to the Lenovo team. Marquez was perfect. Bagnaia, however, struggled.

“We handled both situations in the same way. I would start with Marc. In my opinion, his path towards his ninth World Championship was very emotional. Many riders would have struggled to compete after such serious injuries. Marc, however, got back into the game with choices that were not simple: he left an important company like Honda to join a much smaller Faenza team. His courage should be praised, even if he took a backseat. He was good at creating this path for himself.”

How do you work together with Marquez?

“Marc has an exemplary ability to understand what he needs. Sometimes his aggressiveness leads him to make some mistakes, like in Austin, Jerez or Silverstone. But he never gives up and he has demonstrated this throughout his career. He is a driving force, he involves those around him. And then he often jokes. On several occasions he has questioned himself, saying: ‘Leave the bike as it is. I’m the one who has to work on some details’. It’s not usual to hear this from a champion. And, from my point of view view, this very characteristic has made it even stronger in 2025”.

“During his career, Marc has often crashed. This year, however, he made very few mistakes. He was competitive and very clear. In two races he had to manage pressure problems with the front tire. Marc even had the coolness to understand when to let himself slip away so as not to lose ground. And then he won…”.

Did you take advantage of a quality belonging to Marc?

“The tranquility, the working method. He’s a real team player.”

“We continued to work calmly. The results didn’t arrive, but we always tried to put our riders in the best conditions to express themselves. You have to know how to optimize what you have at your disposal. And not everything always came out perfectly… The victory at Motegi, however, really moved us.”

Up to now Bagnaia has always managed to recover from difficult moments. Do you think it will happen in 2026 too?

“Yes, I’m convinced of it. It’s a strength of Pecco and of the great champions. Nothing happens by chance. To bring Bagnaia back to constantly fighting for victory, the same ingredients as always are needed: study, analysis and a lot of tenacity. It must be said that the opponents have grown, as in the case of Aprilia. We need to accept the moment and work better in the future. Of course, there has been bad luck, but, at times, starting from the back has contributed to finding ourselves in complicated situations.”

You have been doing this job for eight years. How much has the role of rider coach changed?

“A lot has changed, especially at Ducati. Now we work in a different way, with much more organisation. There is greater sharing of many aspects before talking to the rider. The internal team is much more structured”.

Finally, what do you expect from 2026?

“It will be a complicated season. The opponents will not stand by and watch. We will have to optimize the result in every situation. Perhaps the time to work for 2026 has already begun.”