Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia couldn’t wait for the 2025 MotoGP season to reach a conclusion, and Chicho Lorenzo has issued his verdict on how the 28-year-old’s year unravelled.
The 28-year-old struggled immensely atop Ducati’s GP25 as the season ensued, racking up just three wins across formats in a season that saw his teammate, Marc Marquez, take victory 25 times from 36 races.
Francesco Bagnaia’s woes even attracted sympathy from his rivals within the MotoGP paddock. Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola recently revealed how tough of a watch it was to see the Italian rider struggle at Ducati with no fix in sight.
The recently concluded season marked Bagnaia’s fifth season at the factory Ducati outfit, and also his worst-ever season at Borgo Panigale.
The Italian rider had never finished lower than second when racing in red, but the 2025 campaign saw him drop down the order for fifth by the chequered flag in Valencia.
- READ MORE: One MotoGP rider is in a ‘dominant’ position to join Ducati if Francesco Bagnaia flops again in 2026
Jorge Lorenzo’s father issues his verdict on Francesco Bagnaia’s struggles at Ducati during 2025
In a recent YouTube video titled A Historic Disaster, Jorge Lorenzo’s father, Chicho Lorenzo, analysed Bagnaia’s first season alongside Marquez at Ducati.
The Spaniard was in disbelief over the two-time premier class world champion’s form, saying, “In the first five races, Pecco had champion-level numbers, fighting for the title, podium finishes, a victory, and then after that, after the first few races, he started to falter; he went into a slump.
“His streak lasted five races; his desire to win faded. I don’t recall a case like this in all the history I know of motorcycle racing. I don’t recall a case like this.
“I’ve seen riders who have collapsed, who have lost championships, but not in such a dramatic way. I’ve never seen anything like it. If you look at it, the numbers don’t lie.”
Lorenzo then attempted to offer an explanation as to why Bagnaia regressed so heavily as the season continued, adding, “I’ve always seen Pecco as too calm, too soft. But his numbers indicated that we were looking at a great champion.
“What happened? Well, he had to face Marc Marquez, and not only Marc Marquez. I think he could have handled Marc’s situation more or less well.”
The opening race of the 2026 MotoGP season is tipped to be the most important race of Bagnaia’s career.
The pressure is on for the Italian rider to show that he still has what it takes to consistently compete among the grid’s best riders. If he fails to do so, it remains to be seen what his future in the premier class looks like.
- READ MORE: Davide Tardozzi admits Ducati could not give Francesco Bagnaia the ‘maximum help’ in 2025
Francesco Bagnaia on his MotoGP future
Chicho Lorenzo also believes that Alex Marquez is the reason for Pecco Bagnaia’s 2025 decline
The 2025 term was regarded as a breakout season for Alex Marquez, who ended the year in the runners-up spot at the Ducati satellite team, Gresini.
Lorenzo believes this is the real reason for Bagnaia’s eventual downfall, saying, “I think what has finally sunk him into that hole has been Alex Marquez with a satellite bike, with a satellite team, who has been giving him a run for his money practically all season.
“With very few exceptions, as we’ve seen. The numbers speak for themselves. I think it’s been more about Alex than the fact that Marc Marquez has beaten him the way he has on every occasion.”
Despite trading places at the top of the standings in the earlier stages of the season, Marc proved to be the superior rider over his brother.
However, with equal machinery next year, Alex has been tipped to be Marc’s closest challenger again in 2026.
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