Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia is finally on the right path again after managing to win his second MotoGP race of the season.
The Italian rider has failed to find any sort of groove on Ducati’s GP25 this season, and it has made his life slightly difficult. Fortunately, Bagnaia has a contract for 2026, otherwise, he might already have been replaced by his team by now.
His ride at the Japanese Grand Prix displayed the sort of form expected from the two-time champion, whose only other victory came courtesy of a retirement from Marc Marquez at COTA this campaign. This time, he dominated the MotoGP field and didn’t look back once.
Marquez looked like Bagnaia in Japan, according to Neil Hodgson, who believes that the new reigning champion was making some mistakes. Fans said the same thing about Bagnaia after watching him win, and believe that he should’ve been listened to by his team sooner.
Francesco Bagnaia managed to avoid Japanese Grand Prix ‘disaster’ after Misano test breakthrough
Despite his dominance across the weekend in Motegi, Bagnaia’s revival doesn’t ‘worry’ Alex Marquez, who has a 66-point lead over him in the riders’ standings. In five races, he would need a lot of luck to close that gap and surpass him.
Even Davide Tardozzi did something he hasn’t done all season and celebrated very hard for his rider’s breakthrough in Japan. It has been a long time coming, and pressure will have been mounting on all parties.
Speaking after the race, Bagnaia revealed how he managed to avoid a ‘disaster’ following MotoGP’s tests at Misano, where he was able to draw on expertise from fellow Ducati champion Casey Stoner. It helped him make a breakthrough.
“The difference, for me, is that I was able to push,” he told Diario AS. “Before, I wasn’t riding, but this weekend I was able to ride; I didn’t have to fight with my bike.
“It was easier for me to brake hard, enter corners quickly without it moving so much, without it closing so much at the front, and everything went much better on a circuit like this.
“If I hadn’t found the way in the Misano tests, it would have been the same as in Barcelona, and there it was a disaster. It could have been the same, so I’m very happy.”
READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia admits he was ‘scared’ after one thing he experienced at the Japanese Grand Prix
Why Francesco Bagnaia will be relieved to find a solution to his MotoGP woes after the Japanese Grand Prix
Leaving Motegi with something to show for his efforts was a significant development for Bagnaia. Now, he has a direct comparison between his struggles and optimal performance on the current bike.
For months, he and his team have searched for a solution without any luck, but it appears they have finally found one. The next biggest task is to replicate it.
Tardozzi claims Ducati have made a key discovery about Bagnaia, but too many times a big change has been promised in 2025, without anything being followed up on.
His teammate was focused on winning the title at Motegi, and his eyes will be back on the top step now as well. If Bagnaia can make a statement at the next race in Indonesia, then he may be well and truly back.
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