Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali applauded Marc Marquez for his commanding win in the wet Sprint race at the German MotoGP, while also acknowledging the ongoing difficulties faced by Francesco Bagnaia with the GP25 bike. Domenicali described Bagnaia’s lack of confidence as a complex issue that the team continues to work on, despite the Italian rider’s recent podium finish.
Marquez claimed victory by a margin exceeding six seconds, showcasing exceptional skill in difficult conditions. In contrast, Bagnaia finished 11th in the Sprint, trailing Marquez by approximately 20 seconds, even though he had been the winner in the previous wet race held in Thailand last year.
Marc rode an extraordinary race, but Pecco’s part always worries us a little. If I had the solution to his problems, I would have already suggested it,
Domenicali told Sky Italia.
Efforts to Address Handling Problems with the GP25 Frame
Despite some improvement on Sunday, where Bagnaia secured a third-place podium finish in dry conditions aided by crashes to Fabio di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, the rider still struggles to feel fully comfortable with the GP25. Domenicali noted that Bagnaia’s difficulties in corner entry remain unsolved and are not straightforward to fix.
The Ducati team introduced a new chassis aiming to provide different sensations and improve Bagnaia’s connection with the bike. However, understanding and measuring the rider’s feedback is challenging, making it a process of trial and error.
So you have to try and make changes until you find a way, and then start from there – and that’s what the guys are doing.
Testing and Challenges with Chassis Adjustments at Sachsenring
Bagnaia previously expressed a preference for the alternative chassis during testing at Misano last year, particularly on tracks with higher grip. Nevertheless, he reverted to the standard chassis setup for the German race weekend at Sachsenring. Domenicali acknowledged that frequent changes, while necessary to regain confidence, reduce familiarization with the bike, especially in wet conditions.
Pecco is a guy who won the last race he did in the wet. So something isn’t working, but in the wet [things] are a little different, and I don’t think they’re so chassis-related,
Domenicali explained regarding Bagnaia’s Sprint race result.
The CEO added that having a stable base setup, with minimal adjustments between races and conditions, generally fosters rider confidence, which can be hindered by constant experimentation.
Doing these constant [changes] to try to find different solutions doesn’t help you gain confidence. But if you don’t have it, it’s a bit of a dog chasing its tail.
Positive Signs Seen in Bagnaia’s Sunday Race Performance
Domenicali expressed greater satisfaction with Bagnaia’s performance in the dry Grand Prix on Sunday, praising the rider for regaining some confidence and achieving a podium finish after the difficulties experienced in the wet Sprint.
Pecco also did a great job after a tough race yesterday in the wet – he regained confidence, and I was happy to see him back on the podium.
Finishing 7 seconds behind Marquez and just 0.7 seconds behind the injured Alex Marquez, Bagnaia lost additional ground to the Marquez brothers in the championship standings. Reflecting on his results, Bagnaia voiced the need for further improvements.
It seems like, no matter where I start, I always finish in third – and clearly, we need to change something,
Bagnaia admitted.
We’re making small steps forward, and while it’s not ideal, we recovered positions and scored important points, which is what matters most.
Looking Ahead to the Czech Republic MotoGP and the Summer Break
Regardless of the outcomes in the upcoming Czech Republic MotoGP, Bagnaia will enter the summer break positioned third in the world championship. The team’s ongoing efforts to resolve his confidence issues with the GP25 remain crucial to his competitiveness for the remainder of the season.
