Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia hoped the summer break would provide a much-needed reset after a tough first half of 2025. If anything, things have gotten worse since MotoGP returned.
The Italian has won just one race in 2025 as he struggles to adapt to the Desmosedici GP25. Constantly complaining about a lack of feeling, Bagnaia has concluded that he does not suit the new Ducati and is running out of ideas to fix his problems.
It has been a disappointing return to action for the two-time MotoGP champion. He fell back to eighth in Austria after outqualifying teammate Marc Marquez, while he failed to reach Q2 at Balaton Park and finished ninth.
The last two results are his second and third-lowest finishes of the season, while Ducati teammate Marquez has won the last 14 races in a row, including Sprints. Ducati held ‘very serious’ meetings with Bagnaia in Hungary as they made radical changes to his bike.
What the Borgo Panigale outfit changed is unclear, but it seemed to lift Bagnaia’s spirits. He will hope that these improvements can translate to success at the Catalan Grand Prix, but Pol Espargaro may have given him a reason to worry.
Francesco Bagnaia will detest the grip levels at the Catalan Grand Prix after Pol Espargaro’s KTM test
The KTM test rider, who beat Bagnaia at Balaton Park with an impressive P8 in place of the injured Maverick Vinales, recently tested at Montmelo with Dani Pedrosa.
The Spaniard found that the ‘grip is worse than ever’ on the surface. As journalist Adam Wheeler notes, this will not favour Bagnaia, who ‘detests’ the place and the low levels of traction.
“The track, it has this sort of polished aspect to it, and Pol Espargaro told us recently, I think we may have mentioned this on the pod,” he said via the Paddock Pass Podcast.
“The Red Bull KTM team of him and Dani Pedrosa were testing there and he said the grip is worse than ever and he said the guys are going to be complaining a lot.
“Which means that we’re going to get some cheery debriefs from Pecco Bagnaia, because he detests the place and the low level of traction.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Pol Espargaro has spotted something not ‘normal’ from Francesco Bagnaia
Sitting 227 points behind Marquez in the standings, 2025 will be a year to forget for Bagnaia. The GP25 has not suited him at all and he will desperately hope that next year’s bike will dramatically improve his feeling.
Espargaro saw something not ‘normal’ from Bagnaia at Balaton Park, in that he found himself battling him in the midfield, eventually beating him. While the KTM rider’s performance was impressive, by his own admission, he should not be beating the Ducati star.
Franco Morbidelli says working hard is the ‘answer’ to Bagnaia’s woes. The Italian has been searching for solutions all season, but whatever Ducati have found to improve his feeling does not translate to results.
Ducati may have finally given Bagnaia what he has been demanding from them all year with their latest updates in Hungary. Only time will tell how radical a change this is.
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