Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia has not had the start to the 2025 MotoGP season that he was hoping for. The Ducati rider has been dominated by teammate Marc Marquez.
Bagnaia was looking to return to the top of the premier class after losing his title to Jorge Martin in 2024. However, after two races in 2025, he already has a huge mountain to climb.
The Italian finished third in Thailand and fourth in Argentina, offering little competition to his teammate out in front. Marc Marquez and brother Alex have finished first and second in every race so far.
The former is already 31 points ahead of his Ducati teammate heading into the Grand Prix of the Americas – another race he is expected to dominate. Bagnaia has had little answer to Marquez as he struggles to get to grips with the GP25.
Despite his difficulties, Bagnaia has equalled his best start to a season after the first two races. He scored the same points at this stage in 2023 – he went on to claim his second MotoGP title that year.
With 20 rounds still to go, the Italian has plenty of time to recover. But Marquez’s dominance may be getting to Bagnaia.
Franco Morbidelli says Francesco Bagnaia was ‘angry’ after the first two races of 2025
Bagnaia has said he will play fair with his teammate in 2025 – a sharp contrast to his arch rival Valentino Rossi. He is still looking to adopt his ‘gentleman’ approach with Marquez, but this may be costing him.
31 points is already a huge gap to make up and thus far, the Italian does not look like he can challenge Marquez. Luigi Dall’Igna says Bagnaia ‘must not’ aim for third as he will lose more to his teammate if he cannot fight further up the field.
Marquez has put the two-time MotoGP champion under immense pressure – and it may be getting on his nerves already. Speaking with GPOne in Austin, Franco Morbidelli saw that Bagnaia was ‘angry’ after the first two races.
The VR46 rider beat his fellow compatriot to the podium in Argentina – his first since 2021. Losing to two satellite Ducati riders will not have gone down well with Bagnaia.
“It wasn’t the start he maybe wanted, he expected to do more, but the two Marquez riders started in an incredible state of form and that maybe made him a little bit nervous,” said Morbidelli.
“I don’t know, but I saw him quite angry after the first two races. Maybe it’s because he can’t find the feeling he wants, but when he finds it he will definitely be up there in front. As he is more or less already now, since he is not too far away.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Marc Marquez gave a completely different answer to Franco Morbidelli about how Francesco Bagnaia is feeling
As aforementioned, with 20 rounds still to go, there is every opportunity for Bagnaia to bounce back and challenge Marquez. The latter is expecting his teammate to find his feet during the European leg of the season.
In contrast to Morbidelli, Marquez has seen a different side to Bagnaia in the Ducati garage. Speaking with GPOne, he sees the Italian as ‘well and calm’ despite the pressure and thinks he will be his rival throughout the season.
“I see him as strong. It’s clear, in this beginning of the championship he had some difficulties but the real championship will start in Europe. He already got some points in the first races, but there we will clearly see the level of each of us,” said the Spaniard.
“Personally I see him well and calm, and although he is not comfortable with the bike he is still always on the podium. So I still think he will be a rival in every race and a rival for the title this year.”
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