Francesco Bagnaia has admitted that during MotoGP’s summer break, he revisited races from previous years to understand why the current Ducati doesn’t suit his riding style. This reflection aimed to motivate him to regain the speed and confidence he once had, amid a difficult 2024 season for the double world champion.
Since his premier class debut in 2019, Bagnaia’s journey has seen steady progress, but this year marks one of his greatest challenges. His early career with Pramac Ducati focused on gaining experience, while his rise as an official Ducati rider saw him finish second in 2021 and secure consecutive championship titles in 2022 and 2023. However, 2024 has proved more complicated due to a shift in the bike’s characteristics and fierce competition within the team.
Impact of Marc Marquez and Changing Bike Dynamics
The arrival of Marc Marquez at Ducati’s factory team has added pressure on Bagnaia, as Marquez’s dominant performances have exposed weaknesses in Bagnaia’s approach. Additionally, Marquez’s younger brother Alex has also surpassed Bagnaia in the championship standings, intensifying the challenge. Since winter testing, Bagnaia has struggled to adapt to the Desmosedici GP25, particularly during braking and corner entry phases, where his usual style fails to thrive.
The contrast between Marquez’s eight double victories and 10 podiums compared to Bagnaia’s single win and seven podiums so far illustrates the gap Bagnaia faces. To confront this, he turned back to past races where he experienced success and performance peaks, hoping to identify what has changed and how to adjust his technique.
Insights from Reviewing Past Performances
Bagnaia explained,
“Over the summer, apart from the first week when I rested a lot, I analysed many things from the past,”
as the MotoGP field returned to competition at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
“I watched races from the last few years and then compared them to the first half of this season. It looks like I’m a different rider.”
He further noted the difficulty in alignment with the current Ducati model:
“The conclusion is that my riding style has not adapted to this year’s bike. It won’t be easy because I’ll have to change many things, since the bike’s DNA has changed. That’s why we’ll have to go step by step.”
The mental boost from reliving his top races was also a key aim. Bagnaia said,
“I picked my best past races and reviewed them, also to remind myself of what I was capable of doing, and where I want to be.”
Determined to Improve Connection with the GP25
Despite the obstacles, Bagnaia remains focused on adjusting his feeling towards the GP25 with a clear target in mind.
“In my mind, the goal is to recover my speed; the results will come afterwards. But first I need to feel good with the bike – not fight against it.”
His first opportunity to act on this came during Free Practice 1 at the Red Bull Ring, where Bagnaia joined Ducati teammate Marc Marquez at the top of the timesheets. Though Bagnaia posted the second-best time, he was still 0.310 seconds behind Marquez. Both riders used the same tire compounds, but data indicated Marquez fitted a new front tire shortly before clocking his fastest lap, giving him a slight advantage.
Looking Ahead: Adapting to New Realities in MotoGP
Bagnaia’s struggles highlight a significant turning point in the 2024 MotoGP season, where changes in bike technology and intensified competition require riders to adapt rapidly. His willingness to analyze past successes and recalibrate his racing style with Ducati’s updated machine signals a determination to retain his position among the top contenders. As the season progresses, observers will watch how Bagnaia’s adjustments influence his performances and whether he can reclaim the speed that brought him to the pinnacle of the sport.
