Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has emphasized that rider Francesco Bagnaia must take stronger ownership of his struggles in the ongoing MotoGP season, urging him to play a more active role in improving his results. Despite technical support from Ducati, Bagnaia’s recent performances have fallen short, highlighting the need for the rider to engage more deeply in overcoming his current difficulties.
At the Catalan Grand Prix practice sessions on Friday, Bagnaia’s form dipped noticeably as he finished 23rd and 21st in the two runs. This disappointing start set the tone for qualifying, where he secured only 21st on the grid. This marks a significant low for the double world champion, who has not reached the podium since early July at the German GP. In contrast, his teammate Marc Marquez boasts an impressive streak of seven consecutive victories, putting him on track to potentially claim his seventh championship title.
Persistent Performance Issues Highlighted by Team Management
Speaking to Sky Italy, Tardozzi acknowledged that Bagnaia’s recent results are beneath his usual standards and expressed concern over the rider’s current position in the standings. However, he also conveyed a cautious optimism about the situation.
“This is not Pecco’s standard, it is the standard of the last few races,” Tardozzi said.
“As much as we can help him, he must also help us to help him. We need him to focus more on overcoming the difficulties, which are there, so we need him to think more about the rider he is and how good he is.”
He stressed the collaboration required between rider and team to regain form, highlighting the importance of Bagnaia’s personal commitment alongside Ducati’s technical assistance.
Image of: MotoGP
Technical Challenges and Mental Resilience in Focus
In a follow-up interview on MotoGP’s official English channel, Tardozzi elaborated on the complexities of the GP25 bike that Bagnaia pilots. While Ducati pledges to provide the best equipment possible, riders must adapt and push through bike limitations, particularly during tough phases.
“I mean that there are moments where the riders have to ride over the problems, and that’s the moment,” Tardozzi explained.
“I think that Pecco is able to do it. He showed this several times in the past years. So, I guess that at this moment he needs to help us to help him.”
This perspective places emphasis on Bagnaia’s ability to rise above mechanical and performance obstacles, encouraging his mental strength to match the physical and technical challenges he faces.
Speculation Grows Over Causes of Bagnaia’s Decline
Bagnaia’s downturn contrasts sharply with the form of other Ducatiriders, including Marc Marquez and even Alex Marquez, who consistently outperformed him despite riding a year-old Gresini Ducati. This disparity has raised questions about whether factors beyond the bike’s capabilities, such as confidence or mindset, might be contributing to his difficulties.
When pressed about the role of Bagnaia’s mental state in his recent results, Tardozzi remained measured, highlighting the technical side as a key issue but not ruling out other causes.
“No, I don’t know. I think that if Pecco is not performing, for sure, there is something on the technical side that doesn’t work. That’s obvious because we trust him as a top rider and that means that there is something that we haven’t found yet to let him perform in the proper way.”
“But we’ll see. We are still working, we are still trusting him, and we have to work.”
Managing the Future of Bagnaia’s Campaign and Ducati’s Expectations
The current season stands as a critical turning point for Bagnaia, whose potential remains unquestioned by his team despite this slump. Ducati’s ongoing efforts to refine the bike must be met with an equally committed response from Bagnaia himself. The interplay between machinery and rider responsibility will be decisive in determining whether he can return to form and counterbalance the dominance of competitors like Marc Marquez.
As Bagnaia faces mounting pressure, his response in upcoming races will not only influence his personal standing but also Ducati’s overall strategy in this highly competitive MotoGP championship.
