Francesco Bagnaia MotoGP turnaround reached a pivotal moment at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, where the Ducati rider finally overcame a season plagued by persistent front-end problems. After a series of setbacks, including a particularly difficult Misano weekend, Bagnaia capitalized on ‘unconventional’ technical changes that revitalized his performance and led him to dominate the race weekend.
The Struggles Leading to a Breakthrough
Throughout a difficult season, Bagnaia struggled with front-end instability that undermined his braking confidence and overall race pace. Prior to arriving at Motegi, he had not finished on the podium for ten consecutive races, a drought that frustrated both the rider and his team. The turning point came after the Misano Grand Prix weekend, which had been disappointing for Bagnaia, leading Ducati to offer non-traditional modifications during the post-race testing session.
“In the test in Misano, I was riding 0.7 faster, so quite a huge difference,”
Bagnaia said after the Japanese race, reflecting on the improvements made.
His efforts in Motegi dispelled doubts from skeptics who had questioned whether his progress would translate to other circuits. Bagnaia was the fastest rider in opening practice, secured pole position, and controlled both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix by leading every lap, showcasing a new level of dominance. When asked if he was truly back to form, Bagnaia smiled and said,
“I never left! It’s true that the results from this season are a bit strange and what happened this weekend is that… we finally found the way.”
Despite the joy, Bagnaia expressed frustration at the delayed solution.
“I’m very happy about today, but I’m also very angry about this weekend, because maybe we could’ve done it earlier, maybe after one or two grands prix. We just struggled a bit during the season, but finally the test in Misano gave us the possibility to try things that have helped me a lot. Some specific [things] that have helped me also in other situations.”
He concluded optimistically,
“So, super-happy about it, finally we found it.”
The Technical Adjustments Behind the Success
When asked about the exact changes Ducati introduced, Bagnaia was reserved.
“Honestly, I’m just a rider and I’m just here to push. Sometimes when I push, I’m 20th. And sometimes when I push, I win. It’s not only a matter of me,”
he stated, highlighting the collaborative nature of the improvements.
Though Bagnaia maintained discretion, it is clear that the Misano testing was critical in trialing parts that had been available earlier in the season but not fully utilized. He noted,
“We tested different things in Misano, different things that we already had. But we never had the chance to really try this season.”
He revealed that some components had been tested in Malaysia and Thailand but were subsequently removed after less effective results.
“Yes, this year we had in Malaysia and Thailand, but then we removed it, because Thailand, honestly, was a useless test for me, I was very slow and I didn’t have a chance to test anything.”
Throughout the pre-season, Ducati’s main focus had been selecting the appropriate engine specification for 2025, while recent podium finishes before the Jerez and Aragon tests kept the team from exploring other options until Misano’s disappointing results prompted a rethink.
Bagnaia added,
“The first true test was the one in Misano. So I was able to test different things.”
Regarding whether dominant rival Marc Marquez used the same parts, Bagnaia responded, “Not everything.”
One noticeable difference was the reintroduction of older rear seat aerodynamics. Rumors also suggested Bagnaia might have been riding with an older swingarm, forks, and possibly a different ride-height device.
Bagnaia described how the changes affected his riding:
“This weekend I was riding my bike and not fighting with it. It was much easier for me to brake hard, enter fast into the corners, and without having that much movement, that much locking, that much understeering.”
He explained that without these improvements found at the Misano test, the Japanese Grand Prix could have mirrored the struggles faced at the Barcelona race, where track grip was poor and his performance suffered significantly.
“Because Barcelona was a track without grip and my difficulties have been a disaster, and this track could’ve been the same.”
Renewed Confidence and Challenges Ahead
From the first free practice session in Japan, Bagnaia sensed the potential for success.
“I saw the light in Misano test. I’ve only finished first in FP1 three times in my career, I think. Then all the weekend went in the perfect direction. After qualifying I understood that it was possible to win.”
While realistic about future races, he remained determined to savor the moment and aim high.
“Maybe in the next grand prix I will be back in 20th position, but I just want to enjoy the moment, say a huge congratulations to Marc who is super-deserving of this title. He was unbeatable this season and see if I can fight with him in the next five races.”
Bagnaia’s strong performance was almost jeopardized by mechanical issues visible as intermittent puffs from his bike’s exhaust during the second half of the race. Fortunately, the engine held up without leaking fluids that would have led to disqualification.
“I didn’t know anything. I was just not understanding why in the last three or four laps I was out of power in some corners and I was saying it’s strange,”
he explained.
He added with relief,
“But finally, I didn’t get any sanction, if I did, it was maybe the most upsetting moment of my career! So it’s better like this.”
Bagnaia’s victory cut 27 points from Alex Marquez’s lead for second place in the overall world championship standings, narrowing the gap to 66 points with only five races remaining.
Reflecting on the long wait for the breakthrough, Bagnaia acknowledged,
“The only shame is that we needed 16 races [to find this solution]. But it is what it is. Better late than never.”
