Senior Ducati source tells Francesco Bagnaia the unacceptable ‘problem’ he’s now facing

Add as preferred source on Google

Francesco Bagnaia’s hopes to win the 2025 riders’ title officially came to an end at Misano, while Marc Marquez set up his first title shot for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Ducati have seen very contrasting fortunes for their two works-team riders this season, with Marquez leading the standings with 512 points after 16 of this year’s 22 rounds and Bagnaia sitting third with just 237. Alex Marquez of Gresini on a year-old Ducati sits second with 330.

It is now impossible for Bagnaia to take the 2025 riders’ title, as well, even if the 28-year-old were to win all six of the remaining Grands Prix, the six remaining Sprint Races and Marquez retired each time. At best, the Italian can get within 53 points of the Spaniard’s current total.

After seeing the two-time champion’s woe persist with P13 in the Misano Sprint and a crash in last week’s San Marino Grand Prix, Luigi Dall’Igna admits that ‘everyone’ at Ducati has lost patience with Bagnaia, too. He has not stood on a Grand Prix podium in the last five rounds.

Francesco Bagnaia losing to the Ducati riders other than Marc Marquez is not acceptable

Bagnaia has sought Casey Stoner’s help to address his struggles on the Ducati Desmosedici GP25, with which Marquez has won 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprint Races this season. Ducati have only seen Bagnaia win in 2025 when Marquez crashed in the lead of the Americas GP.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number

But a senior Ducati source has now told Motorsport.com that it is “acceptable” for Bagnaia to lose to Marquez. Yet Bagnaia’s “real problem” is that he is also struggling to consistently outperform the other riders on Ducatis, including VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio on a GP25.

The senior Ducati source said: “The answer to that question lies only with him. We want to help, but he must let us. He cannot be the last of the Ducati riders.

“Pecco is much better than that. The issue isn’t Marc beating him, that’s understandable and acceptable. The real problem is that the others are now more consistent than him.”

Pecco Bagnaia is closer to falling out of the top three than he is to catching Alex Marquez

Alex Marquez is the only rider who can mathematically deny his brother, Marc Marquez, the 2025 title. But the Gresini ace, using a GP24, could see his hopes come to an end at Motegi on September 26-28 as Marc can now win the 2025 title at the Japanese GP next time out.

Bagnaia’s main priority right now is not even to catch Alex in the standings, with Aprilia rival Marco Bezzecchi just eight points behind him in the fight for third. VR46’s Franco Morbidelli on his GP24 and Di Giannantonio on a GP25 are also only 57 and 58 points adrift of Bagnaia.

There have even been some public outbursts from Bagnaia about his Ducati woes, given the Italian struggles to adjust his riding style to suit the GP25 all the while Marquez thrives from across the garage. And what patience Ducati have left will be tested if Bagnaia keeps losing.