Just days after an impressive victory at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, Francesco “Pecco”Bagnaia‘s relationship with Ducati has sharply deteriorated amid growing frustration over technical setbacks. Bagnaia’s dominant performance in the race and qualifying raised expectations, but recent events have revealed escalating tensions within the Ducati team, casting doubt on their MotoGP campaign.
Misano Test Controversy Fuels Doubts
The discord intensified following revelations about Bagnaia borrowing Franco Morbidelli’s bike during the crucial tests at Misano, which team manager Davide Tardozzi quickly denied. This incident sparked confusion and suspicion inside the Ducati camp. Bagnaia responded to the swirling media attention with a pointed remark:
“For technical questions, ask Dall’Igna. I’m just the rider, and I say what I’m told to say.”
—Bagnaia, Rider
This statement suggested that the rider felt sidelined from important technical conversations, highlighting a fracture in the usually unified team dynamics.
Disastrous Qualifying and Sprint Race Deepen Frustration
The latest qualifying session dealt a severe blow to Bagnaia’s confidence when he took only 16th place, followed by a last-place finish in the Sprint race, trailing the winner by almost 30 seconds. His frustration was evident as he questioned the performance of his bike:
“Is this the same bike from Motegi? In theory, yes. In practice, I don’t know.”
—Bagnaia, Rider
Transitioning from a race winner to a laggard on the grid, Bagnaia’s disappointment grew more intense in post-race interviews.
Public Criticism Highlights Technical Failings
Addressing the Dazn cameras, Bagnaia did not hesitate to express his dismay over the bike’s unexpected decline in performance:
Image of: MotoGP
“It’s unacceptable in technical terms. Was there a mistake in the garage? Something went wrong because just six days ago, I was winning with a two-second lead in the Sprint at Motegi, after breaking the track record in qualifying. Now I’m doing what I just did. It’s impossible.”
—Bagnaia, Rider
His stark criticism underscores his growing impatience with the uncertainties around the bike’s capabilities, which contrasts sharply with his recent success.
Seeking Answers Amid Confusion and Isolation
Bagnaia continued to demand explanations for his sudden drop in form, placing pressure on his team to clarify the situation:
“This is beyond my control. The team, I don’t know, someone at least needs to explain why I was so slow, why I can’t be in these positions. It’s normal; they have the data. I don’t know why this happened. Today my best lap was in 1’31”
7—being two seconds slower than the leaders is just bizarre.”
—Bagnaia, Rider
His words reflect a growing sense of isolation, as he struggles to understand why his bike underperformed despite clear data available to the team.
The Urgency of Ducati’s Response and Future Implications
The confidence Bagnaia built in Motegi has been shattered by these setbacks, placing both the rider and the Ducati team at a pivotal moment in the championship. With tensions rising and trust wavering, Ducati must swiftly address these technical failures and provide the support Bagnaia demands. The forthcoming decisions will be critical not only for Bagnaia’s career but for the team’s ability to compete at the highest level in MotoGP going forward.
