Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia has a mountain to climb in 2025 after a disastrous weekend at the Grand Prix of France.
The two-time MotoGP champion went into the weekend at Le Mans 20 points off the championship lead. While his results before the race marked the best start of his career, Bagnaia has been struggling to adapt to the GP25.
Teammate Marc Marquez has come straight into the factory Ducati team and outperformed him. Ahead of the French Grand Prix, the Spaniard had won eight out of 10 races, while Bagnaia has grabbed one win and finished third six times.
Ducati chief Luigi Dall’Igna has been critical of the 28-year-old this season, stating he must find improvements to compete with Marquez. Bagnaia accepted the criticism, but the weekend at Le Mans suggested the pressure is getting to him.
The Italian crashed out in the Sprint in the early stages, while Marquez claimed another win. Fans think Dall’Igna has lost faith in Bagnaia after seeing his telling reaction to the accident on MotoGP cameras.
Sunday’s race was no better, as Bagnaia was taken out on lap one by Enea Bastianini and limped home 16th – his first non-points finish of the season. Marquez’s second place gives him a 51-point lead over his Ducati teammate at the top of the standings.
Sete Gibernau reveals Ducati insiders say Francesco Bagnaia is ‘below expectations’
Marquez thinks Bagnaia has a ‘problem’ coping with the faster races in 2025. While the six-time MotoGP champion appears to have confidence on the GP25, his teammate cannot find the right feeling on the bike.
Speaking via the BOBB TV – PADDOCK TV YouTube channel, Sete Gibernau revealed his conversations with Ducati insiders about Bagnaia. He says those within the team think the 28-year-old is ‘below expectations’ but insists they must work on why he is struggling.
“I spoke a bit with the Ducati technicians, who are dear friends of mine,” he said.
“I’m sorry that I see Pecco because he seems like a very good guy to me and I’m sorry that it’s like that.
“If I allow myself to say something, when someone who is inside a team says: ‘Pecco is not reaching expectations’ and says something [like] that, with all my respects, it’s too obvious.
“It’s obvious, someone inside a team who has to lead the team, its riders and to take the best out of themselves, you can’t say: ‘Pecco is below expectations’.
“Damn, that can be seen, you don’t have to be a phenomenon to say a sentence, a speech like that. In my opinion, you have to get to the root of why he is not performing.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
‘Something is not right’ as Francesco Bagnaia struggles to see improvement at Ducati
After his disaster at Le Mans, the Italian is now facing a huge challenge to reclaim his title. Bagnaia is suffering his ‘worst nightmare’ as he is being regularly beaten by satellite Ducati riders.
Gresini’s Alex Marquez has shown he has an advantage over Bagnaia, despite being on a year-old bike. Even his rookie teammate Fermin Aldeguer is starting to outperform the factory Ducati rider, finishing third in the Sprint and main race in France.
Jaime Alguersuari says ‘something is not right’ with Bagnaia as Aldeguer begins to close the gap. The 28-year-old must urgently find some performance, but he is already struggling to see it.
Bagnaia fails to see ‘improvements’ on the GP25 as he does not feel the front end. The Italian has admitted he must adapt his riding style, with time running out to compete for the title.
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