Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia suffered another setback in 2025 as he retired from the Sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Bagnaia outqualified Ducati teammate Marc Marquez for the second race in a row as the Italian managed P3. The championship leader tried to better his time in the closing stages, but Marquez crashed at turn three, leaving him on the second row.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi took his and the team’s first pole position of 2025, with Alex Marquez in second. Despite his positive result, Bagnaia felt Marquez would ‘surely’ lead by turn one; he was not far off with his prediction.
As the lights went out for the Sprint race at the Red Bull Ring, Bagnaia encountered wheel spin with the rear tyre and slid sideways into the path of oncoming bikes. The Ducati rider fell down to the back of the grid before retiring his GP25 on lap eight.
MotoGP riders are planning serious talks about the holeshot device after Francesco Bagnaia’s issues in Austria
Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer had the same problem at the start, with the pair being lucky not to collect anyone and cause a major accident.
Journalist Mat Oxley appeared to suggest that the holeshot device caused the problem for Bagnaia via X( formerly Twitter). Set to be banned under the 2027 regulations, the device has been widely criticised, with Fabio Quartararo being denied victory at Silverstone because of its failure.
Oxley posted after the Sprint in Austria about how the holeshot devices cause sideways starts. Speaking with Honda’s Luca Marini in the media scrums, the Italian said that MotoGP riders are planning to address the issue at next Friday’s Safety Commission.
“One reason we see more sideways start incidents these days is because holeshot devices turn the bikes into drag bikes and the latest devices do this more so than ever, so the bikes can handle much more torque at the first drop of the clutch, but the rear tyre can’t. Hence the sideways starts,” wrote Oxley
“Grid pile-ups are a really good way to hurt a lot of riders really badly. Marini just told us that the riders will discuss this matter at next Friday’s Safety Commission.
“The normal tech rules can be instantly overruled in the cause of safety. So the question is this: will Dorna/FIM ban holeshot devices according to the riders’ concerns or will they continue to cross their fingers each time the lights go out and keep doing that to Valencia 2026?”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Francesco Bagnaia falls even further behind Marc Marquez after Austria Sprint DNF
Marc Marquez passed Bagnaia and Bezzecchi at the first corner as his brother Alex took the lead of the Sprint. It was not long before the Ducati rider found his way through for the lead as he went on to claim his 12th Saturday of the season.
With Bagnaia failing to finish, he is now 180 points behind his teammate in the standings. It is a disastrous start to his Austrian Grand Prix weekend, but Sunday presents a new opportunity.
Starting from the front row, he has a chance to right the wrongs of the Sprint and put some more points on the board. Ducati have fitted larger brake discs to Bagnaia’s bike, which have improved his feeling in previous races.
Jorge Martin is adamant that Bagnaia is better than he is currently showing, having fought against him for the title in 2024. But the 28-year-old is struggling to find the right balance with the GP25, while Marquez has adapted seamlessly as he dominates the championship.
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