Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia says Ducati rear tyre ‘destroyed itself’ during a painful United States Grand Prix on Sunday. Valentino Rossi has already highlighted the problem.
On Saturday, Bagnaia was a matter of corners away from winning the Sprint race before old rival Jorge Martin passed him on the final lap. Still, a first podium of any description offered him some much-needed optimism.
The Italian also looked strong at the start of the main Grand Prix as he fought with teammate Marc Marquez, but he dropped back as the race went on. After falling behind Luca Marini just before the chequered flag, he crossed the line 10th.
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‘The risk of crashing was very high’ – Francesco Bagnaia on United States GP tyre woes
Bagnaia ended up more than 7.5 seconds behind fellow Ducati GP26 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio after battling him in the early stages. That highlights the deterioration of his pace.
Speaking to outlets including Speedweek, he put his regression down to extreme rear tyre wear. He had so little grip at the end of the race that he feared a crash.
Bagnaia is adamant that he ‘tried everything’ to manage the tyre but couldn’t find a solution. His average finishing position this year, excluding his Brazil DNF, is 7.6.
- READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia will bring Casey Stoner’s crew chief with him when he leaves Ducati for Aprilia
“We have a real problem with rear tyre wear,” said the two-time MotoGP champion. “I tried everything to treat the tyre properly, I didn’t provoke any slides. But even with this riding style, the tyre destroyed itself.
“In the last few laps, the risk of crashing was very high. On the last lap, Luca Marini overtook me on the outside in the long right-hander.”
What Valentino Rossi has said about Francesco Bagnaia tyre woes
Speaking at a MotoGP Hall of Fame dinner last year, Rossi said rear tyre wear was Bagnaia’s ‘biggest problem’.
Rossi, who serves as a mentor figure for the VR46 Academy graduate, explained: “During the last laps, Pecco is slower, and last season [2024], he was very strong in the last laps.
“Last season, Pecco was the rider who arrived to the last laps with his tyres in a better condition, and during the last laps, he was faster than the others.”
Rossi met with Bagnaia’s crew chief last year to try and understand his collapse, but even after a change of equipment, the perplexing issues continue.
Perhaps the only consolation for Bagnaia is that the other Ducati riders are having similar difficulties sustaining performance. Even Marquez hasn’t managed a podium in the first three Grands Prix.
Bagnaia is currently ninth in the championship, one place and three points behind last year’s runner-up Alex Marquez.
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