Michele Pirro sees three reasons that prove Francesco Bagnaia can survive being at ‘loggerheads’ with Marc Marquez

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Francesco Bagnaia kickstarted his season after winning in America but arrives at the Grand Prix of Qatar trailing Alex and Marc Marquez in the MotoGP riders’ standings.

On paper, Bagnaia has enjoyed his best start to a MotoGP season yet after scoring 75 points through the opening three rounds. But the immediate success that Marc Marquez has found at the factory Ducati team has overshadowed the 28-year-old’s results over the early events.

Bagnaia’s previous best start to a premier class season was in 2023 as the 28-year-old took 53 points – only trailing Marco Bezzecchi’s 64. He also bagged 46 points over the first three rounds of the 2021 term when Sprint Races were still not a key part of the MotoGP calendar.

Francesco Bagnaia can fight Marc Marquez for the MotoGP title as he has a ‘cool head’

Inconsistency denied Bagnaia more points to start his 2023 title-winning season. But Ducati are yet to see the Italian finish lower than P4 in any race this season with P3 in both races in Thailand, P3 and P4 in Argentina, plus P3 in the Sprint before Bagnaia won the Americas GP.

Yet Alex Marquez leads the MotoGP riders’ championship for the first time after securing P2 finishes in every race so far this year. The 28-year-old has taken full advantage of his brother Marc Marquez crashing from the lead of the Americas GP to lead the 32-year-old by a point.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number

Bagnaia trails Alex’s 87 points plus Marc’s 86 points with 75 points ahead of the Qatar GP – which Pecco won last year. Yet if anyone can take the fight to Marc Marquez for the MotoGP title, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro thinks Bagnaia can as the Turin native has a ‘cool head’.

Pirro told Speedweek: “If there’s anyone who can compete with him right now, it’s Pecco.

“He’s prepared, knows the bike and has the cool head you need when you’re at loggerheads with a rider like Marquez… Pecco represents Ducati’s DNA [of] work, calm and performance. He doesn’t need to reinvent himself, he just needs to evolve.”

Francesco Bagnaia can stake his case by winning back-to-back races at the Qatar Grand Prix

Pirro also recently described Marquez’s arrival at Ducati as an opportunity for Bagnaia as the six-time MotoGP champion has rediscovered his magic beside the two-time title-winner this season. The 32-year-old dominated the start of the term, right until he fell on Lap 9 at COTA.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend

Marquez looked set to run away with the championship despite Bagnaia’s career-best start to a MotoGP season, with the Spaniard winning the Sprint and Grands Prix in Thailand and Argentina plus the Americas Sprint. But his crash in Austin opened the championship again.

Now, Bagnaia can strive to eat into his 11-point deficit to the Cervera native from the Qatar GP with the Lusail International Circuit more suited to his riding style than either of the first three rounds. Yet Marquez will surely be keen to bounce straight back with another victory.