Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia is slipping further away from the MotoGP title in 2025 as he struggles to adapt to his new Ducati bike.
The Italian has brought incredible success to the manufacturer in the premier class, winning two titles in 2022 and 2023 and playing a pivotal role in Ducati becoming the dominant force in MotoGP. However, Marc Marquez has thrown a spanner in the works in 2025.
Since moving to the factory Ducati team, the Spaniard has adapted brilliantly to the GP25, winning 15 out of 20 races, including Sprints, thus far. While his teammate has dominated the field, Bagnaia is struggling to find performance.
The 28-year-old has constantly complained of a lack of feeling in the bike, having won one race in Austin after Marquez crashed out from the lead. Ducati have been working tirelessly to help Bagnaia, including fitting new brake discs to improve feeling, but it has done little to improve his results.
Marquez has been storming away from the field as he already sits 126 points ahead of Bagnaia after 10 rounds. It will take some miracle for the Italian to dethrone his teammate in the remaining 12 Grand Prix.
Loris Capirossi says it is ‘absolutely wrong’ to question Francesco Bagnaia’s talent in 2025
MotoGP fans have been questioning Bagnaia in 2025 due to the pace deficit to his teammate. But the two-time champion is not throwing in the towel as he keeps trying to find improvements.
Speaking via GPOne, former Ducati rider Loris Capirossi says it is ‘absolutely wrong’ to question Bagnaia’s talent this season. He claims the Italian will ‘never throw himself down’ as he hopes to keep fighting.
“I want to come out in favour of Pecco. First of all, because no one doubts Marc’s talent: he is a very strong rider, he has proven it over the years, and not for nothing is he an eight-time world champion,” he said.
“He has found a fantastic feeling with the Ducati and the team and he is really going very strong. Pecco is still struggling, but I think it’s absolutely wrong to question his talent.
“Nobody can do that, because he is a rider who has won. He has won in MotoGP with so much talent. He has won some great races, fighting. He is a fighting rider.
“Clearly, when you can’t find the perfect feeling with the bike, it’s normal that you don’t want to throw it on the ground, but you want to try to understand.
“He is a very intelligent rider, who works with the team and one of his virtues is the fact that he never throws himself down. He has to keep working, keep believing in himself and he will be able to become what he is again. Because he’s a talent, he’s a champion and he has to keep it up.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Ducati are not giving up on Francesco Bagnaia in 2025
Marco Melandri laughs at people saying Bagnaia is ‘doing badly’ in 2025. He had been enjoying his best start to a MotoGP season in the opening rounds and is consistently fighting for podiums.
The problem is that he has Marquez as his teammate, who has beaten every rider opposite him in the garage in the premier class. Marquez is ‘making the difference’ over Bagnaia by knowing when to push the bike.
Luigi Dall’Igna says he will ‘never quit believing’ in Bagnaia after he saw his masterful overtake on Pedro Acosta. He is not looking to give up on his rider after he gave Ducati so much success in recent years.
However, Bagnaia has been told to wake up as pressure is being mounted on him to improve results. Bagnaia has changed his approach since receiving the order, but only time will tell if it will work.
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