 |
| Marquez Booed After Sprint Victory in Italy, Ducati Boss Tardozzi Fires Back at Fans. |
The Italian Grand Prix at Mugello turned fiery—not just on the track, but in the stands too. Right after Marc Marquez clinched the win in Saturday's sprint race, the eight-time world champion was greeted not with cheers, but with boos, whistles, and jeers from a part of the crowd.
The reaction didn’t sit well with Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi, who took matters into his own hands—literally. He stepped up to the pit wall and made it crystal clear: Marquez wears red now, and that means something in Italy.
Why Do Italian Fans Still Boo Marquez?
Let’s rewind a bit. Marquez’s rocky relationship with Italian fans traces back to his explosive rivalry with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi in 2015. That year, Rossi accused Marquez of intentionally interfering with his title hopes at the Australian Grand Prix, which eventually led to their infamous clash at Sepang.
Since then, Rossi has repeatedly claimed Marquez "stole" what would’ve been his 10th world title. The fire hasn’t died down—Rossi even brought it up again in a podcast appearance last year.
So yeah, the wounds are still fresh for many fans, especially in Italy. Even though Marquez now rides for Ducati, a beloved Italian brand, some spectators at Mugello just can’t seem to move on.
Tardozzi’s Epic Response: “It’s Red!”
After Marquez crossed the finish line and made his way to the main straight, some fans responded with loud whistles and boos. But the highlight came when Spanish broadcaster DAZN caught Ducati’s Tardozzi confronting the crowd.
With passion written all over his face, Tardozzi put a finger to his lips in a “shh” motion and shouted, “Oh my God, it’s red!”—referring to Ducati’s iconic red racing color as he pointed to his team shirt. Basically, he was saying: “Like it or not, Marquez is one of us now.”
Mugello: A Tough Track for Marquez On and Off the Bike
It’s no secret that Mugello hasn’t exactly been friendly territory for Marquez. Back in 2016, security around the paddock had to be tightened due to threats directed at both Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo (the 2015 champ). So even now, despite riding for Ducati, some fans still treat him like an outsider.
But if anything, this sprint win proves Marquez isn’t going to let the noise get in the way of business. He’s focused, fast, and clearly ready to fight.
Rossi Was There Too—Adding to the Tension?
Yep, Valentino Rossi was in attendance this weekend, representing his VR46 team. While he’s stepped away from racing on two wheels, his influence remains massive. His presence at Mugello no doubt stirred up memories of that heated 2015 season.
Interestingly, Rossi just had a rough weekend of his own—he was in a strong position to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGT3 class before his No. 46 WRT BMW, co-driven with Kelvin van der Linde and Ahmad Al Harthy, broke down overnight.
He’s said to be scaling back on car racing this year to attend more MotoGP events—so, expect more “Rossi vs. Marquez” energy at future rounds too.
So... Is It Time to Move On?
At the end of the day, Marquez now rides for Ducati, and he’s proving himself on Italian soil. Still, the tension in the air shows that some fans just aren't ready to forgive and forget.
But hey—racing is all about passion. And whether you're Team Marquez or Team Rossi, one thing’s for sure: MotoGP is way more exciting when there's a bit of drama, right?
*READ MORE LATEST NEWS AT GOOGLE NEWS