Francesco Bagnaia’s struggles during the recent Misano MotoGP weekend marked a significant low point in his career, raising concerns about his confidence on the Ducati bike. The factory team insists that the issue lies not with the machine but within Bagnaia himself, emphasizing that the difficulties are psychological rather than mechanical.
Bagnaia’s Difficult Weekend and Rising Questions
The Italian rider, Ducati’s most successful figure, endured a challenging weekend at his home circuit in Misano, where he failed to score points for the second time this season. Despite finishing eighth in qualifying, Bagnaia managed only 13th place in the sprint race and crashed out while running eighth in the main event on Sunday. These poor results have shocked his fans, team, and the wider MotoGP paddock, generating widespread speculation about the root of his decline.
This slump contrasts sharply with the form of his Ducati teammate and fierce competitor Marc Marquez, who secured his 11th win of the season and is poised to clinch a seventh MotoGP championship in Japan shortly. Marquez’s remarkable revival after multiple surgeries highlights the stark difference between the two riders’ current trajectories.
Team’s Assessment Points to a Mental Block
After thorough investigations into Bagnaia’s Ducati Desmosedici, the team concluded no technical faults explain his loss of pace. Instead, Ducati attributes the problem to Bagnaia’s mindset, suggesting the confidence crisis is self-inflicted and not connected to the bike’s performance.
A senior Ducati insider explained,
“The answer to that question lies only with him. We want to help, but he must let us. He cannot be the last of the Ducati riders. Pecco is much better than that.”
The source further clarified,
“The issue isn’t Marc beating him; that’s understandable and acceptable. The real problem is that the others are now more consistent than him.”
While Ducati publicly supports Bagnaia, ensuring some discretion around his struggles, internally they acknowledge that patience is wearing thin. Team principal Gigi Dall’Igna openly remarked,
“Pecco’s patience has run out, and so has ours, and that of the fans who follow him.”
Current Performance and Championship Implications
Since the Sachsenring grand prix, where Bagnaia achieved a third-place finish before the summer break, he has managed to earn only 40 points over five subsequent rounds. His rivals have capitalized on this slump: Marc Marquez collected 168 points, Marco Bezzecchi 99, Pedro Acosta 89, and Alex Marquez 69 during the same period. Bezzecchi now trails Bagnaia by just eight points in the championship standings, and Acosta is closing in despite being 49 points behind overall.
This downward trend puts Bagnaia’s hold on third in the standings at risk and casts doubt on his ability to challenge for the title, given the intensity of competition and his current loss of rhythm.
Behind the Scenes: Support and Attempts to Recover
Although Ducati and Bagnaia maintain a public front focused on diagnosing the root cause of his struggles, the internal message is consistent: the solution is mental, not mechanical. Ducati’s engineers, familiar with every detail of the GP24 and GP25 models, have found no bike-related reasons for the decline, insisting,
“It’s not about the GP24, the GP25 or the GP26. The problem isn’t there.”
Bagnaia has declined to work with a sports psychologist, instead encouraged to continue riding as a form of mental therapy. His team and management are attempting to help him regain confidence through familiar routines and support.
At Misano, despite crashing on Sunday, Bagnaia participated in post-race sessions on Monday using the same bike. There, he improved his lap times significantly, finishing sixth in testing ahead of Marquez. Close by was Casey Stoner, the 2007 MotoGP champion, who has taken on a mentoring role, providing both advice and setup suggestions to the rider. Their connection is strengthened by Cristian Gabarrini, Bagnaia’s crew chief and Stoner’s engineer during his championship wins, which makes communication smooth and effective.
Bagnaia acknowledged the importance of Stoner’s presence, stating,
“I’d love to have Casey with me all the time. I know that’s not possible, but whenever the chance arises, I try to make the most of it.”
What Lies Ahead for Bagnaia and Ducati
With one of the most active rider market periods in recent times approaching, Ducati faces crucial decisions about its factory lineup. Securing a contract renewal for Marc Marquez tops their priorities, while Bagnaia’s future remains uncertain unless he can reverse his recent poor form. Whether aboard the GP25, GP26, or alternative machinery, Bagnaia must rediscover his confidence promptly to maintain his place on the team and challenge for the championship.
