Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia is desperate to find a way to improve upon his 2025 MotoGP results after struggling with Ducati.
It’s the first time since he joined the factory team in 2021 that he has been so far off the pace, not helped by the introduction of six-time champion Marc Marquez as his teammate.
The Spaniard is in relentless form, having won both the sprint race and Grand Prix at each of the last six races. He seems to get the Ducati to work like no one else can.
His results have added pressure to Bagnaia’s workload, as he has a proven example alongside him, showing what the same bike can be capable of.
After the Austrian Grand Prix, Luigi Dall’Igna revealed the real reason Bagnaia is struggling and points to his issues being more of a mental thing than anything inherently wrong with his bike.
Even two-time champion Casey Stoner thinks Ducati would send a ‘clear’ message by replacing Bagnaia, but would they want to give up on a talent they have invested so much in, so easily?
Francesco Bagnaia slams ‘inappropriate’ reaction to his Ducati struggles in 2025
Bagnaia is ‘not allowed’ to discuss one Ducati problem because criticising their current machines with nine races to go wouldn’t be fair to his colleagues.
They’ve worked tirelessly to give their riders a bike capable of winning, and it would be a kick to their morale for one of them to put their work down.
Bagnaia is set to receive a ‘big hit’ at Ducati if he fails to finish inside the top three of the championship. He would lose out financially.
Speaking about his recent struggles ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 28-year-old has slammed the response to his difficulties, calling it ‘inappropriate’.
“People have talked about me in the most inappropriate way possible, but in the end, when you have a difficult weekend, especially after a disastrous race like the one in Austria,” he told the Italian edition of Motorsport.com.
“You go and do hot interviews and talk to 20 television stations, 20 journalists, who ask you what your problem is, and you become even more nervous.”
Luigi Dall’Igna’s damning assessment of Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati
After a difficult Austrian Grand Prix, where he could only muster eighth place on Sunday, Bagnaia was visibly dejected.
He has waited so long for something to change in 2025, and it doesn’t look like there is any magical formula around the corner.
Luigi Dall’Igna issued a damning Bagnaia verdict and says that every poor result is a ‘missed opportunity’ for his team and rider.
There’s a risk that Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi will catch and pass them in the standings on current form, which would be a bit of a disaster.
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