Francesco Bagnaia’s MotoGP struggles have intensified this season, as evidenced by his disappointing start at the Catalan Grand Prix. The Italian rider’s 21st place on the grid was his worst qualifying result in MotoGP—if the 2022 Portuguese GP crash is excluded—despite his career tally of 25 pole positions. This poor start position continued a troubling pattern seen earlier, as Bagnaia struggled to break into the top 20 during Friday’s sessions.
Bagnaia’s sprint race performance in Barcelona further underscored his difficulties, finishing in 14th place in a sprint that saw only 18 riders complete the race. Such struggles on sprint race days have long been a weak point for Bagnaia this year, hampering his ability to compete at the front and putting pressure on his chances in the main events.
Strong Sunday Recovery Still Fails to Mask Deeper Problems
Despite a lackluster qualifying and sprint, Bagnaia showcased determination in the main race on Sunday by recovering from his poor start to finish seventh. He quickly advanced to 12th place on the opening lap, seizing opportunities created by others’ crashes to break into the top 10. Even as his rear tyre degraded, Bagnaia engaged in close battles with Ai Ogura and Luca Marini, ultimately crossing the line between them. This effort was bolstered by a new swingarm fitted to his Ducati GP25 before the race, which helped stabilize his performance.
The contrast between Bagnaia’s results in the sprint versus the grand prix was stark. In the sprint, he finished over 14 seconds behind winner Marc Marquez after just 12 laps, losing more than a second per lap. Conversely, in the 24-lap grand prix on Sunday, he was only 16 seconds behind the leader despite battling through the pack. Bagnaia attributes part of his sprint struggles to the lower-capacity fuel tank required on those shorter races, which negatively affects his bike’s performance.
Declining Season Form Alarms Ducati and Fans
Barcelona, a circuit where Bagnaia had previously excelled with three consecutive wins over 2023 and early 2024, highlighted the rider’s decline as he missed the podium once again. Alex Marquez claimed victory at the venue, while Ducati teammate Marc Marquez secured a strong second-place finish on a track where he had often struggled. Bagnaia’s recent form paints a worrying picture—he has now gone four races without a podium finish, with even his Brno pole position only translating to fourth in the race.
These results reveal a clear downward trend, notably since the summer break. Bagnaia’s brief hopes of a turnaround at the Balaton Park GP proved temporary, as he appeared lost again in Barcelona. By contrast, Marc Marquez has shown steady improvement, minimizing crashes and emerging as a dominant force in the championship.
Team and Rider Reflections on Bagnaia’s Difficult Season
Ducati’s management and Bagnaia himself have offered varying explanations for the slump. Team boss Davide Tardozzi pinpointed a lack of confidence as the main factor holding Bagnaia back, describing it as
“more about the confidence you have in the bike, which is completely different.”
Tardozzi compared Bagnaia’s struggles to those of teammate Fabio di Giannantonio, emphasizing the challenge of regaining self-belief after poor results. He also conveyed that the rider must take a proactive role in overcoming bike-related difficulties, stating,
“As much as we can help him, he must also help us to help him,”
and
“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.”
Gigi Dall’Igna, Ducati’s sporting director, offered a more measured view, noting the difficulty in explaining performance drops when riders don’t meet expectations. He remarked,
“It’s difficult to have an explanation because the riders don’t perform like you expect,”
adding,
“For sure the feeling that Pecco has at this time is not the same that he had last year. So I think this is the main reason for the lack of performance.”
Dall’Igna reassured that the team is committed to restoring Bagnaia’s confidence and improving his connection with the GP25.
Mismatch Between Bagnaia and the GP25 Bike Hinders Results
Throughout 2024, Bagnaia has struggled to adapt to the new Ducati GP25, a stark contrast to the dominance he enjoyed on the GP24 last year, when he captured 11 victories and narrowly missed the title to Jorge Martin. Despite the bike’s demonstrated potential through Marc Marquez’s success, Bagnaia has revealed ongoing issues, particularly with braking and corner entry, that have eroded his confidence.
His reluctance to compare the GP25 with the GP24 in recent interviews underscores the frustration with the current package. While he likely would have preferred to continue on the previous model, Bagnaia acknowledges the newer bike’s higher potential, evidenced by his peers’ performances. The fundamental mismatch between his riding style and the latest Desmosedici has created a cycle that limits his ability to challenge for wins consistently.
Looking Ahead: Misano Test Offers Potential Turning Point
The upcoming Misano test presents a critical opportunity for Bagnaia to reverse his fortunes. However, the circuit’s high-grip asphalt might provide a misleading indication of improvements rather than a true performance turnaround. Bagnaia remains cautious, opting not to repeat the cycle of premature optimism seen after the Balaton Park race. He explained,
“Honestly, I don’t want to do the same as Balaton. I arrived here convinced that I could be competitive,
and added,
“So, I will take a step back, wait until Misano and see what happens.”
While Bagnaia plans to focus on gradual progress, the championship leader, Marc Marquez, may have already solidified his dominance by the time the Italian rider regains form. As a result, Bagnaia must prepare to rebuild toward the 2026 season, acknowledging that the remainder of 2025 is unlikely to yield significant results.
Ducati’s Challenge: Reviving Their Second-Most Important Rider
Bagnaia holds a crucial place in Ducati’s modern MotoGP history, regarded by Dall’Igna as second only to Casey Stoner. His role in initiating Ducati’s recent era of dominance is undisputed. Yet, this season has been marked by frustration and setbacks, with no clear positives to balance his losses. Despite his undeniable talent and past achievements, Bagnaia’s ongoing difficulties pose a significant challenge for the manufacturer.
The key to Ducati’s continued success lies in helping Bagnaia reconnect with his previous confidence and find harmony with the GP25 machine. Overcoming this hurdle is vital for the team, as their second-most significant rider aims to reclaim his place at the front of MotoGP competition.
