Jorge Lorenzo says Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati nightmare highlights a big problem with modern MotoGP

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Francesco Bagnaia has found an ally in Jorge Lorenzo after losing his way at Ducati in 2025. Bagnaia has fallen 250 points behind his teammate Marc Marquez.

Lorenzo was also thrashed by Marquez during the 2019 season at Honda, his final year in MotoGP. He can sympathise with Bagnaia’s plight.

Indeed, Lorenzo sees similarities between himself and Bagnaia, having ‘suffered’ at Ducati while the engineers searched for a way to make him comfortable on the bike. He spent two years with the Borgo Panigale squad after leaving Yamaha.

Bagnaia has complained for much of the season about a lack of ‘feeling’ on the motorcycle. Both parties appear to be looking at one another waiting for a breakthrough that may not arrive in the final six races.

Jorge Lorenzo says ‘there’s no patience in MotoGP’ amid Francesco Bagnaia unravelling

Speaking on the latest Duralavita podcast, Ruben Xaus called for Valentino Rossi to give Bagnaia more support. Rider #63 is a graduate of The Doctor’s academy, and the duo still share a close relationship.

It’s been suggested that Rossi could coach Bagnaia back to his title-winning level. Xaus believes he’d be especially useful from a psychological standpoint.

“I can’t see it, but the one who should be here helping him to the death, who has experience like no one else, is Valentino Rossi,” he said.

“I mean, if anyone can guide him and show him the way, help him in some way, off the races, Valentino Rossi has experience, he’s fought with everyone, and psychologically he’s been a killer. It doesn’t seem like they’re supporting him mentally.”

But Lorenzo feels that the narrative around Bagnaia highlights a larger problem in MotoGP. Given that he has won two world titles and still sits a respectable third in the standings, he perhaps deserves more ‘patience’.

“It’s not that I don’t think they’re being patient with the lad,” he said. “It’s just that there’s no patience in MotoGP today.”

The simple reason 2026 could be even worse for Pecco Bagnaia at Ducati

Some in the MotoGP paddock think that Luigi Dall’Igna isn’t being fair to Bagnaia. The Ducati boss maintains that the bike has hardly changed compared to last year, when his rider fought with Jorge Martin for the title until the last race.

But Ducati’s new-for-2025 engine seems to have rebalanced the bike. Marquez, a specialist at covering up problems, has thrived regardless, but Bagnaia and Fabio di Giannantonio have both been outshone by Alex Marquez on the GP24.

The big concern is that this could be perpetuating. Ducati will naturally prioritise Marquez with their 2026 development, having seen him win 24 races from a possible 30.

A repeat of 2025 would seriously endanger Bagnaia’s chances of signing a new contract. He’s made an enormous contribution to the brand’s history but, as Lorenzo points out, people in the paddock have increasingly short memories.