Neil Hodgson shares exactly what Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati were ‘missing’ in Spanish Grand Prix fight

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Francesco Bagnaia inched closer to the top of the MotoGP standings at the Spanish Grand Prix, but will still leave Jerez disappointed.

Ducati teammate Marc Marquez made yet another major mistake, this time crashing out of his home race at a pivotal time.

Unfortunately, Bagnaia was unable to completely capitalise on the error, finishing the Grand Prix of Spain third behind Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo.

The start of the 2025 MotoGP campaign has been tough for the Italian rider, and Monday’s Jerez test offers an opportunity for some experimenting in the pursuit of gains.

Bagnaia’s big limitation has been exposed and he has been struggling to overtake or maintain good pace in dirty air.

On a positive note, MotoGP fans blamed Bagnaia for Marquez’s crash and were impressed with the pressure that he was able to put on his teammate.

READ MORE: Valentino Rossi’s big Francesco Bagnaia prediction now hinges on the Ducati rider addressing one last weakness

Neil Hodgson claims Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati are ‘missing’ speed on corner entry

Five races into the season and it’s fair to say that Ducati signing Marquez may have ‘destabilised’ Bagnaia, judging by his drop-off over the winter.

There’s little explanation as to why a two-time champion and contender in each of the last four seasons would suddenly be off the boil.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Neil Hodgson revealed his hypothesis for why Bagnaia has struggled and shared what he may be missing.

“Luckily for Pecco, Marc has made two huge mistakes in races. I tell you what, if Pecco can find something tomorrow, I know everyone is testing so potentially everyone can find something, but I believe [in] Pecco,” he said.

“He is missing something in that area, in that corner entry. It’s a balance thing. You don’t experiment too much in the race weekends, you’re racing on the Saturday. Friday afternoon you’ve got to go to your absolute limits.”

READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia thankful that MotoGP fans now know the truth after his words about Marc Marquez were twisted

Francesco Bagnaia set for Ducati upgrade during MotoGP’s in-season test at Jerez

Speaking after the race in Jerez and ahead of Monday’s in-season test, Michael Laverty mentioned that Ducati would be bringing a new aerodynamic package for Bagnaia.

It’s hoped that the changes will help cure some of the issues faced with the GP25 and offer a more stable baseline to work with.

If it doesn’t work, then speculation around the 28-year-old’s future will only continue to grow. His team expect good results and won’t settle for second or third best.

Alex Marquez has been performing very well for Gresini, and the plaudits he’s earned could elevate him into a position where the factory team is seriously evaluating for a ride alongside his brother.