Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati’s factory rider, revealed he experienced extreme difficulties during the 2025 MotoGP season, at times feeling disconnected from his own performance. Despite significant success in previous years, Bagnaia struggled to adapt to his bike, even as his teammate Marc Marquez consistently secured victories with the same machinery. This turmoil affected Bagnaia’s confidence and results, especially after the summer break.
Performance Decline Sparks Concern Within Ducati
Bagnaia’s decline was stark, as evidenced by his 21st place in qualifying at the Barcelona Grand Prix and a failure to score points at the San Marino event. Ducati’s general manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, openly expressed frustration, indicating that his patience was wearing thin regarding Bagnaia’s inconsistency. The gap between Bagnaia’s form and Marquez’s dominance created added pressure on the Italian rider.
Turning Point at Misano Test Leads to Revival
Bagnaia’s fortunes began to shift after a crucial breakthrough during the Misano test, where he worked alongside MotoGP legend Casey Stoner. Ducati also integrated parts from its GP24 model into Bagnaia’s 2025 bike, which helped him regain a competitive edge. Riding with renewed confidence, Bagnaia secured a double victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, taking pole position and leading comfortably to the finish.
Reflecting on a Difficult Season and Personal Growth
While pleased with his second Grand Prix win of the year, Bagnaia admitted struggling with his performance struggles as a three-time world champion.
“I have to say that this season I’ve asked myself a lot of questions,”
he confessed.
“There was a moment when I didn’t recognise myself. I was 21st in qualifying and having bad races. I couldn’t believe it.”
He acknowledged the impact of having such a strong teammate, saying,
“I had such a strong team-mate, and if you’re weak, that’s going to affect you a lot. I’ve only learned that this year. Even though he wasn’t the fastest, he often won, and only champions can do that.”
These comments underline the psychological and technical challenges Bagnaia faced throughout the campaign.
Race Management and Technical Challenges at Japanese Grand Prix
During the Japanese GP, Bagnaia dominated from the front, managing to pull away quickly and keep his rivals at bay. However, towards the later stages of the race, concern arose in the Ducati garage as smoke emitted from his bike intermittently. Despite this malfunction, Bagnaia maintained control and won with a four-second lead over Marquez, allowing Ducati to secure a one-two finish.
Reflecting on the mechanical issue, he said,
“I don’t know what happened, it could be the same thing that happened to [Fabio] Diggia [Di Giannantonio] two years ago in Valencia. I didn’t notice anything, except that in the last three or four laps I felt like I was lacking a little power, but if they had penalised me for that today, it would have been the most upsetting thing in my life.”
Bagnaia expressed both satisfaction and regret:
“We’ve had a perfect weekend. I’m happy, but on the other hand, I’m angry [that the breakthrough came so late].”
He praised his ability to control the race from the front, which is his preferred style, saying,
“It was fantastic to be able to do [the double] again. I hadn’t done it since Barcelona last year. I got off to a good start and controlled the whole race, just as I like to do.”
Returning Enjoyment and Motivation for Future Battles
Bagnaia noted that until the Misano test, he had not truly enjoyed riding the bike during the season.
“I wanted to push and just have fun on the bike. That hadn’t happened since last year, and I didn’t manage it until the Misano test,”
he stated, emphasizing the importance of regaining a positive connection with his motorcycle.
Respect and Admiration for Marquez’s Championship Run
Bagnaia also praised Marc Marquez for clinching his ninth world championship, including seven in the premier class, with a podium finish at Motegi.
“There aren’t many words to describe Marc’s season and his last six years. He has been through what no one else has with injuries and bad times, and he has had admirable mental strength,”
Bagnaia said. He continued,
“I would have liked to fight with him. He has been perfect all season except for two or three races. He has been incredible. I want to congratulate Marc, his family, [his partner] Gemma, and his team, who are always with him.”
Looking ahead, Bagnaia expressed determination to challenge Marquez in the upcoming season, acknowledging that this year Marquez had the advantage of securing the championship early.
“Next year I’ll have another opportunity to continue learning and try to make it difficult for him,”
he said.
“Today Marc had the excuse of closing the world championship, but in the next races we’ll see if we can start fighting.”
Outlook for Bagnaia and Ducati in 2026
Bagnaia’s 2025 MotoGP struggle ultimately reveals both the challenges of high-level competition and the resilience required to overcome setbacks. His return to winning form at the Japanese Grand Prix sends a strong message that he remains a top contender within Ducati’s ranks. With renewed confidence and technical improvements, Bagnaia aims to build on this momentum and mount a sustained challenge against Marquez and other rivals in the next season.
For Ducati, balancing the development of two championship-capable riders will be key to maintaining dominance in MotoGP. Bagnaia’s experiences this year underscore the fine margins and mental toughness necessary to compete at the highest level in the sport.
