Duc🙈ati sent text message𓆉s to Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia to check on any lingering ill-feeling after Portimao.

The f𒉰irst collision of the season between the star Ducati riders took place at the Portuguese MotoGP, when Bagnaia’s overtake attempt put both men into the gra🦂vel.

It was deemed ꧒a racing incident although Gresini's Marquez lay the blame at factory Ducat𓃲i rider Bagnaia’s door.

It was down to Ducati sporting director Mauro Grassilli to soothe any potentia🐻l problem.

He was asked at the Circuit of the Ameri꧅cas h❀ow he intervened.

“Very easy,” Grassilli insisted.

“I sent🍎 both of them a message. I can’t remember, Monday or Tuesday.

“Just ‘hey guys, everything under control?’

“Pecco and Marc answered me, ‘yes, everything ✨under control, looking forward to COTA’.

“So, positive, very positive.”

The collision in Portimao left Marquez and Bagnaia without a point from the second grand prix o🍌f the season.

They were battling for P5 at the time.

Those lost points look even worse after the COT🐻A round, when Marquez crashed out from the lead and Bagnaia could on🐼ly manage fifth.

Marq﷽uez is 44 points behind championship leader Jorge Martin after three rounds. Bagnaia is 30 points behind Martin.

The bigger picture💝 for Ducati was the threat of tension between the reigning MotoGP champion and their star new ꧂recruit.

Before signing Marquez last year, Ducati boss🦹es had mentioned the inevitability of his aggressive riding style causing issues.

Althou💟gh, the first flashpoint of his Ducati career was caused by Bagnaia’s attempt to pass, it is widely considered.

Both Marquez and Bagnaia find themselves fur𒐪ther off the top of the MotoGP standings than they might have expected.

MotoGP retu🎀rns for the fourth round of 2024 in Jerez on April 28-30.