Francesco Bagnaia makes ‘lucky’ admission immediately after scoring Malaysian Grand Prix pole

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Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia beat Gresini rival Alex Marquez to score pole position for the 2025 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix by 0.016 seconds at Sepang this Saturday.

Bagnaia now boasts three pole positions through the first 20 rounds of 22 this term, making the Italian the joint-third most successful rider during qualifying sessions to date in the 2025 MotoGP season. Only Marc Marquez (8) and Fabio Quartararo (5) have secured more poles.

Ducati were relying on Bagnaia to carry the torch for the Borgo Panigale brand at Sepang on Saturday after confirming that Marquez will miss the rest of 2025 through injury. Yet the 28-year-old had to go through Q1 before topping the qualifying timesheet at the Malaysian GP.

Bagnaia claimed pole for the Malaysian GP with a 1:57.001, set with just under four minutes remaining of Q2. The 28-year-old waited until the mid-Q2 lull before venturing out onto the circuit after having to advance from Q1 with a 1:57.190, but his lap was enough to take pole.

Francesco Bagnaia took Malaysian Grand Prix pole after ‘luckily’ having to go through Q1

Ducati rider Bagnaia had only set the 12th-fastest lap time during the pre-qualifying practice session this Friday, with a 1:58.206, which meant the two-time MotoGP champion had to go through Q1. But Bagnaia feels he was lucky to have to run in Q1, as it led to him taking pole.

READ MORE: Everything to know about the Malaysian Grand Prix, including past winners

Bagnaia used the extra track time from the 15-minute Q1 session to try out some last-ditch changes to his Ducati Desmosedici GP25, which the Turin native thinks made the difference in Q2. Alex Marquez also improved his 1:58.057 for P9 in practice to a 1:57.017 for P2 in Q2.

“Always, [hard work pays off],” Bagnaia said on TNT Sports 2 (25/10, 04:46). “It was quite tough, because yesterday I know that it was my mistake to have not go through direct [to Q2]. So, I knew the possibility was there, but I didn’t use well the performance of our bike.

“Today, every Ducati [rider] took a step in front, which was important for us. Luckily, I had Q1, because I had enough time to try different things that were better for me.”

Pecco Bagnaia still needs ‘something more’ despite scoring pole position at Sepang

Bagnaia arrived at Sepang for the Malaysian GP hot off the back of two frustrating weekends for the 2022 and 2023 champion at the Indonesian Grand Prix and the Malaysian Grand Prix. He also fell behind Aprilia ace Marco Bezzecchi in their fight for third in the riders’ standings.

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

While Bagnaia won the Motegi Sprint and Japanese Grand Prix from pole in round 17, he did not maintain any momentum with P14 in the Mandalika Sprint, a crash in the Indonesian GP, P19 in the Phillip Island Sprint and another crash in the Australian GP in the last two rounds.

Now, pole position for the Malaysian GP could set Bagnaia up for a stronger showing around Sepang than what he showed Ducati at Mandalika and Phillip Island. But the 31-time career MotoGP Grand Prix winner admits he is still not 100% happy with his pace aboard the GP25.

“We need to do another step,” Bagnaia added. “It’s true that we’re quite happy about it, but we need something more.”