Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP pundit Marco Melandri thinks Francesco Bagnaia can now see ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ after his podium finish at the Italian Grand Prix, following months and months of frustration with Ducati.
The two-time world champion’s P3 at Mugello marked his first consecutive trip to the MotoGP podium in nearly 12 months. Despite Aprilia securing a one-two at the chequered flag, Bagnaia led the opening half of the race, eventually succumbing to tyre wear.
Still, it was a highly encouraging performance for the Italian rider, who had accrued just 13 points from Grands Prix in the first five rounds before his back-to-back podium streak began in Barcelona.
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It is absolutely no secret at all that Bagnaia has been struggling with Ducati’s recent specifications of their prototypes. Marc Marquez trounced him in the teammate battle last year, as well as Alex Marquez, who was still utilising one-year-old machinery.
One of the biggest critiques that Marquez had about Bagnaia last year was in reference to his riding style, in which that year’s title-winner opined that the Italian was riding ‘stiffer than ever’.
According to former MotoGP star Marco Melandri, Bagnaia now looks to be back at his best on a MotoGP bike.
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Marco Melandri says Francesco Bagnaia is ‘finally’ riding relaxed again
During Melandri’s analysis of the Italian Grand Prix on the Chiacchiere da Box podcast, he identified how Bagnaia has found his footing again with the current version of the GP26, which aided his push for another podium at Mugello.
#63 won the Italian Grand Prix on three separate occasions in the past, so it was clear that he already had an affinity for the Tuscany-based circuit well before he arrived in Mugello for the race weekend.
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“I think he’s looking better now because, even though he was on the podium in the first few races last year, he was stiff on the bike – he didn’t look quite right,” Melandri told co-host Davide Valsecchi.
“Comparing him to Marquez was always difficult, because Marquez was winning. Now, though, he was the first Ducati – in other words, he was the fastest Ducati. I’ve finally seen him looking good on the bike again, riding well and looking relaxed, so I’d say he’s better now.
“And he can improve; I mean, in my opinion, in the next few races. He’s gaining confidence because he’s starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel; whereas before he saw the light going out, now he sees it coming back on, so even mentally he’s approaching it differently.
“I like it; I liked this weekend, and the bike is certainly struggling because everyone collapsed at the end of the race.”
Bagnaia’s real test now will be at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, where he could only muster a P9 finish atop championship-winning machinery last year. Balaton Park isn’t a strong circuit for Ducati, which suggests his race craft could very well make the difference.
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