Marc Marquez, the dominant leader in the MotoGP championship, expressed confidence that his Ducati factory teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, will overcome his current difficulties with the GP25 bike. Despite Bagnaia’s recent poor performances, including a tough weekend in Austria, Marquez remains optimistic about the Italian rider’s ability to find form and start winning again soon.
Bagnaia’s Frustration with Ducati’s Current Bike
Bagnaia, currently third in the championship standings and with only one win this season, openly admitted to feeling frustrated with Ducati’s bike. After the recent Austrian Grand Prix, he told reporters that he was “running out of patience” with the manufacturer. However, in a later media briefing, Bagnaia softened his stance and emphasized his ongoing commitment to Ducati, the team with which he won the world titles in 2022 and 2023.
Marquez Highlights the Need to Regain Confidence
Marquez pointed out that the main issue affecting Bagnaia’s performance is a loss of confidence, which, in MotoGP, can result in losing crucial time on each lap. He explained how small differences at braking points accumulate into larger time losses during a race. Despite this, Marquez recalled Bagnaia’s strong pace during Friday practice in Austria, which shows his potential remains intact.
I think Pecco is smart enough and has enough experience to absorb all these things,
Marquez said, acknowledging Bagnaia’s ability to handle the current challenges. He added,
But, at the same time, we saw on Friday in Austria that he was the fastest out there. Pecco is Pecco and he will [get there] sooner or later.
Bagnaia Clarifies His Comments and Confirms Future Intentions
Following his critical remarks in Austria, Bagnaia admitted that speaking immediately after a difficult race might have clouded his judgment. He reflected on the situation, noting that his tendency to speak openly sometimes works to his detriment.
One of my faults is always more or less to say what I think,
Bagnaia said.
When you finish a very disastrous weekend, a very disastrous race, and then you go directly to do the interviews… it’s not a good idea.
He also dismissed speculation about his future beyond Ducati, stating that his priority remains winning with his current bike and team. He expressed a willingness to stay with Ducati if possible but did not rule out moving elsewhere when his contract expires.
But my priority is to win again with my bike, with my team, and never think about changing.
Bagnaia Avoids Testing the Previous Ducati Model
Bagnaia addressed questions about his interest in testing the GP24 bike, the previous Ducati model with which he had much success. However, he revealed that he prefers not to try it since regulations prevent him from returning to the older bike for races if he decides he likes it better.
Honestly, it’s something that I don’t want to try, because in case I will prefer it, I cannot go [back to racing with it]. So it’s… better not to show the potential of last year’s bike.
Implications for the Remainder of the MotoGP Season
Francesco Bagnaia’s current difficulties with the Ducati GP25 have tempered expectations for his performance this season, but Marc Marquez’s confidence and Bagnaia’s own determination suggest a potential turnaround could be on the horizon. With Bagnaia’s record as a two-time world champion and his previous success on Ducati machinery, observers will be watching closely to see when he can regain his confidence and challenge for wins again. How he adapts in the coming races may shape the championship battle and Ducati’s competitive stance for the rest of the year.
