Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia could qualify in just 11th place for the 2025 Grand Prix of Qatar after crashing in Q2, whilst Ducati teammate Marc Marquez secured pole position.
The 28-year-old arrived at the Lusail International Circuit with momentum behind him after Bagnaia won the Grand Prix of the Americas. But the Italian now faces a daunting challenge for back-to-back wins with Bagnaia set to start the Qatar GP from the fourth row of the grid.
Momentum has also swung back to the Marquez half of the Ducati garage after the 32-year-old secured his fourth pole of the 2025 MotoGP season. Marquez has taken P1 in each of his qualifying sessions as a Ducati rider so far and can bid to bounce back from falling in Austin.
Marquez crashed in the lead of the Americas GP to promote Bagnaia into the lead and clear his teammate to win. The six-time champion’s crash also saw his brother Alex Marquez lead the MotoGP riders’ championship for the first time with the Gresini star a point up on Marc.
Francesco Bagnaia crashed in qualifying for the Qatar GP as the Ducati rider ‘knew’ he is under pressure
Marquez posted a new all-time track record to score pole for the Qatar GP with a 1:50.499, beating his brother Alex Marquez of Gresini by 0.101 seconds. Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha also secured a front-row start, while Bagnaia would wind up in 11th after he crashed in Q2.
Bagnaia was only ninth following the initial Q2 runs and elected to go against the grain with an earlier second run than most of the field. But his hopes to improve evaporated with five minutes left on the clock when Bagnaia crashed at Turn 4 trying to trail brake into the bend.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
The front wheel on the two-time champion’s Desmosedici GP25 could not handle the loads Bagnaia put through his tyre, causing him to fall whilst nearing the apex. His fall also raised questions for Neil Hodgson, who wondered if Bagnaia had not prepared his front tyre right.
Also, Hodgson thinks the Italian crashed in qualifying for the Qatar GP as Bagnaia ‘knew’ he is under pressure from Marquez in the riders’ championship. Despite his victory in America, Bagnaia arrived in Lusail for the Qatar GP 12 and 11 points behind Alex and Marc Marquez.
Hodgson said on TNT Sports 2 (12/04, 14:15): “Look, it’s qualifying, you have to do a fast lap. He knew his back was against the wall. He’s risking a lot and he doesn’t get away with it. You do wonder [if Bagnaia did not activate his tyres on the out lap].
“I’ll tell you what you could see. The bike backed in and as the wheels come in line, it overloads the front.”
Francesco Bagnaia needs a mega start in Qatar like he managed in America to stand a chance
Crashing in qualifying for the Qatar GP, and only securing 11th on the grid, would have been amongst Bagnaia’s biggest fears for this weekend’s meet at Lusail. While it has been his best start to a year on paper, even Valentino Rossi feels 2025 has been ‘very difficult’ for Bagnaia.
The form of the Marquez brothers – with Marc winning every Sprint so far plus the first two Grands Prix and Alex coming second in every race – has cast Bagnaia’s career-best start to a MotoGP season into the shadows. Now, he likely must outdo what Bagnaia enjoyed in Texas.
Qualifying was not his strong point at the Circuit of the Americas, either, as Bagnaia secured P6 in Austin. Yet the Ducati pilot relished a superb start in the Sprint and also the Grand Prix to immediately contend for the wins. But starting in 11th at Lusail will make life even harder.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
