What Davide Tardozzi was seen doing in the Ducati garage before Francesco Bagnaia took Czech Grand Prix pole

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Francesco Bagnaia took his first pole of the 2025 season in a dramatic qualifying session at the Czech Grand Prix. Ducati teammate Marc Marquez crashed out at the end of his lap.

Bagnaia had to compete in Q1 after a difficult Friday where he criticised the team’s strategy. The progression of the two-time world champion was briefly in doubt, but he pulled out the lap he needed.

In the end, the extra session may have been an advantage after a weather-affected Friday. Bagnaia set a 1:52.303, which proved good enough for his first pole since the 2024 season finale in Barcelona.

Marquez, who has had seven poles this year, was projected to be a couple of tenths quicker with his final lap. However, he followed Johann Zarco into the barriers in the final seconds of the session.

Davide Tardozzi was shaking his head at Francesco Bagnaia before Czech Grand Prix pole

Bagnaia qualified 11th at the German GP seven days ago before recovering to third in the race. It appeared as if he might face a similar comeback task this weekend.

The Italian was only 18th in FP2, 1.2 seconds off the pace set by his teammate. When he returned to the garage afterwards, Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi covered up the world feed cameras.

And with Bagnaia lacking pace early in Q1, Tardozzi was filmed shaking his head. It looked as if he was braced for the worst.

But a sudden turnaround delivered a much-needed boost. Bagnaia will now go in search of his second victory of 2025 after winning the Americas GP at the end of March.

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Bagnaia entered the Czech Grand Prix 147 points behind Marquez. With the title now looking unattainable, a realistic target for the final 11 races would be overhauling Alex in P2 – the gap is currently 64.

Speaking on TNT Sports, pundit Sylvain Guintoli said Tardozzi and his Ducati colleagues seemed ‘really down’ about Bagnaia’s chances. But he then reminded them why he was a world champion.

“That was a stunning second attempt,” said Guintoli. “That lap looked really, really nice and tidy. He concentrated during the session before on his race pace. You can see him there making the most of that rear grip and making it count when it really, really matters.

“Everybody looked really down, as if ‘this is going to be a real struggle’. And then Bagnaia goes out, and he’s a world champion and he put everything on the line there for that lap.”

This is the 25th pole of Bagnaia’s premier-class career. He’s had at least five in each of the last four seasons.