Following a difficult weekend at Le Mans marked by two non-finishes, Francesco Bagnaia will continue his effort to improve front-end feel with the Ducati GP25 at the British MotoGP this weekend. Bagnaia’s focus on regaining this confidence is vital after a rare setback in his otherwise strong Sprint era performances.
After starting the season impressively by reaching the podium in eight of the first ten races, including a victory at COTA when teammate Marc Marquez crashed, Bagnaia’s momentum was halted by an early accident in the French Sprint race. The following day, although he made the strategic call for wet tires during the grand prix restart, Bagnaia was clipped by former teammate Enea Bastianini at the first chicane, forcing him to rejoin and finish 16th.
Bagnaia’s Objectives and Performance Challenges at Silverstone
Bagnaia spoke candidly about the setbacks at Le Mans:
“The Le Mans weekend didn’t give us much satisfaction. I was fast and competitive from Friday, but the double crash in the races prevented me from scoring points.”
He emphasized the importance of front-end confidence, adding,
“The goal is to have more confidence on the front to be able to ride as I want.”
“I’ve always been very strong at Silverstone in the recent years, I like the track and the atmosphere and I can’t wait to get back at work in the garage.” —Francesco Bagnaia
Bagnaia’s misfortune at Le Mans means he is no longer able to contend for the championship lead this weekend. His factory Ducati teammate, Marc Marquez, currently holds a 29-point lead over Alex Marquez of Gresini Ducati, with Bagnaia trailing by 51 points. Marc Marquez, who has previously won once at Silverstone back in 2014, shared his perspective ahead of the race.
Marquez’s Focus and Development Efforts Before Silverstone
Marc Marquez remarked on his progress:
“I’m back on track looking for confirmation. In France I achieved two very important placings for the [world championship] standings and I continued to test the bike.”
“We’re going back to the pits for finding the same sensations on the material that we tried at the Jerez test and we’ll continue to work hard to be competitive in both races.” —Marc Marquez
This ‘material’ tested at Jerez included a revised chassis aimed at enhancing bike performance. The upcoming Silverstone circuit, known for its fast and flowing layout, represents an opportunity for Bagnaia to leverage a track where he has won and stood on the podium multiple times in recent years.
Implications for the British MotoGP Weekend
Silverstone will be a crucial test for Bagnaia as he chases front-end confidence with the Ducati GP25 after a rare scoreless outing. The pursuit of stability in his riding style is critical for a potential return to consistent competitiveness in the championship. Meanwhile, Marquez aims to solidify his points lead while fine-tuning his bike to maintain front-running form.
The developments this weekend will influence the championship landscape and set the tone for the coming races, with Silverstone providing a challenging yet familiar battleground for both Ducati riders.
