Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia’s return to form at the Sepang test did not surprise Mauro Sanchini as the Ducati rider likes the track in Malaysia, but Buriram will be a much tougher test.
The MotoGP paddock gathered for the first time in 2026 at the Sepang International Circuit at the start of February. Gresini pilot Alex Marquez set the pace with the fastest lap and the best Sprint Race sim, but Bagnaia offered encouraging signs after his year of woe in 2025.
Bagnaia set the second-best average Sprint Race lap time at the Sepang test, and the works Ducati ace’s consistency alarmed their rivals. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola claimed they could “go home” given Bagnaia’s pace in Sepang, with the top non-Ducati 0.387s off the top three.
Beyond impressing Rivola with his Sprint Race simulation, Bagnaia was “relieved” at Sepang to improve his single-lap speed as he feels able to push harder on the front end of his bike than he could during 2025. But Sanchini takes Bagnaia’s gains in Sepang with a pinch of salt.
What jumps out from the race simulations? ⏱️
Francesco Bagnaia must ‘hold his own’ against Marc Marquez in Thailand to prove he’s back
Former World Superbike rider and current Sky Sports Italy technical commentator Sanchini highlights that Bagnaia won the 2025 Sepang Sprint from pole position to slightly play down his progress at the 2026 test. Instead, Buriram will really show if the true Bagnaia is “back”.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
MotoGP will hold a two-day test at Buriram this weekend ahead of the season-opening Thai Grand Prix next week. And Sanchini wants to see Bagnaia at least get close to rivalling Marc Marquez on the other side of the garage in Thailand to confirm that Ducati fixed his issues.
Sanchini told Fanpage: “Bagnaia’s strong performance at Sepang doesn’t surprise me, given the 2025 season. If Pecco confirms his speed in Thailand, then yes, I can believe they have truly found the solution to last year’s problems, perhaps on corner entry.
“There, you can give a different weight to what you saw. Marc, on the other hand, is someone who’s strong both at Sepang and in Thailand. I don’t expect any major upsets against him. But overall, Buriram will give us clearer indications.”
Sanchini added: “I think the worst for Pecco is already over. In Japan, he showed that when he’s in shape, he can hold his own against Marc and the others. Now, I’ve seen him more positive, and I expect a strong season.
“[Buriram] is not his favourite track. He doesn’t have to dominate, but I want to see him there, close by, clear, taunting. That tells me he’s really back.”
Pecco Bagnaia trailed by 267 points when Marc Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP title
Has Francesco Bagnaia found the key to fighting for the 2026 MotoGP title?
Bagnaia endured his worst season as a factory Ducati rider during the 2025 campaign, as he fell to fifth in the standings after failing to finish six of the final seven Grands Prix. Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP title with a record five rounds to spare after joining Ducati last term.
Marquez even left Motegi holding a 267-point lead over Bagnaia atop the standings, despite the latter winning the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix from pole. The Japanese GP was ultimately the only race that Bagnaia finished over the final seven rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season.
Now, Sanchini wants to see Bagnaia fight Marquez in Thailand like he did to win in Japan last year. Marquez won the 2025 season-opener at Buriram on his works Ducati debut by 1.732s over his Gresini star sibling Alex Marquez, while Bagnaia came home 2.398s behind the lead.
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