Former MotoGP racer Alex Barr𒉰os says Valentino Rossi told him “he wilꦿl help” Francesco Bagnaia “in every way possible” against Marc Marquez in 2025.

Reigning double 💦world champion Bagnaia will be partnered by Marquez at the factory Ducati team next year after the latt♑er forced a major rider market bombshell earlier this summer.

The pairing is already anticipated to have a tense relationship, with it known that the VR46 camp was not happy with Ducati’s U-turn in deciding again꧟st promoting Jorge Martin to t🃏he factory team.

This stems from Rossi’s long-running feud with Marquez, with the nine-time world champion telling L’Equipe recently that he didn’t understand🍷 Ducati’s decision.

Seven-time premier class race winner Barros met with Rossi at the recent Sao Paulo World Endurance Championship 🍌round and told : “Valenti♕no has very clear ideas and told me that he will help Pecco in every way possible.

“It will be a difficult year, but for sure the Italian’s long period in Ducati, the two titles and the third on the way, as well as the progress of the Desmosedici, will be kept in mi൩nꦛd.

“But the arrival of a rider capable of altering the equilibrium will change things in the courseღ of the season.”

Barros believes Bagnaia and Marquez “are not friends”, despite publicly hav🦹ing a good relationship, and says any fallout between them in 2025 will only help Ducati’s rivals.

“Bagnaia is a [VR46] Academy rider and he💙 knows Rossi’s opinion of Marquez, because of everything that happened between them.

“So, even if he doesn’t show it, they are not friends. If next year Marc, who has just arrived, were to make a difference maybe already in the winer, there will be a lot of controv🌼er𝓡sy and a high level of rivalry.

“Managing two riders like that is complicated. In the eyes of the public it w💛ill be fine, but internally it will be tough.

“Should they start to bother each other or fall out𒊎, they could Aprilia and KTM if [they are] equipped with a good bik🍃e.”