Two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia has expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the Spanish Grand Prix, admitting he’s “not happy” after struggling to make progress during the intensely competitive 25-lap race at Jerez. Despite finishing in third place during Saturday’s Sprint and repeating the position on Sunday, Bagnaia found himself unable to overtake fellow competitor Fabio Quartararo, which contributed to his frustration.
Following the race, Bagnaia addressed the media, revealing the challenges he faced throughout the event. He stated, “I’m not happy with races like this – I can’t do anything again.
His sentiments highlighted the driver’s dissatisfaction with his performance, further amplified by his early race pace, which he initially felt was promising. “I was quite happy for the first three or four laps, that my pace and my feeling was very good,” he explained, but soon encountered difficulties as he approached Quartararo. “As soon as I arrived to Fabio [Quartararo], I wasn’t having any chance to overtake.”
The Italian rider elaborated on the specific issues that plagued his race, mentioning the difficulties he experienced at critical turns on the track. “Every time arrived in turns seven, eight, 11, and 12, I was losing a lot; the front was locking a lot and I was losing it everywhere,” he lamented. While he acknowledged that Sunday’s race was “better” than his performance in the Sprint race, the recurring problems this season have left him exasperated. He noted that even iconic racer <a href=
https://www.big14news.com/rider/marc-marquez/
>Marc Marquez faced similar challenges on the same day, crashing at turn eight while trying to follow him.
“Today I was better than yesterday – at least I overtook someone, so it was better,” Bagnaia explained. However, the season’s ongoing difficulties have proved to be an obstacle: “The problem this season is always the same: when you are behind someone, you start to feel that the front is locking everywhere and it’s a problem.” This continuous struggle is not just a personal battle; it seems to impact multiple riders who share the same competitive space on the track.
Bagnaia reflected on the wider implications of this issue, specifically how Marquez, not accustomed to being behind another rider with a comparable pace, struggled in the same way. “For the first time that Marc [Marquez] wasn’t leading from the start and was behind someone with a similar pace, he lost the front,” he stated, underlining the gravity of the racing conditions affecting them both. “It’s something that I’m getting used to…today I lost the front many times: turn eight, turns 11 and 12, turns four and five. We don’t know why.”
In his quest for clarity, Bagnaia articulated his frustration about the current bike’s performance, particularly the Desmosedici GP25, which he believed held untapped potential when compared to its predecessor, the GP24. “I think that the GP25 has more potential than the GP24 because it has more acceleration, more top speed, and on the brakes, it’s very good,” he commented. However, he questioned the factors that have led to his current feelings of inadequacy. “Last year I was never having this problem apart from in the Sprint…this season I cannot do it,” he admitted with a heavy heart. By analyzing the data from the season’s races, he found stark contrasts between his previous performances and his current struggles.
Bagnaia also offered a keen observation regarding <a href=
https://www.big14news.com/rider/alex-marquez/”>Alex Marquez, who is currently riding the Desmosedici GP24, arguing that Marquez’s impressive performance resembles his own strong showings from the previous year. “Looking at Alex [Marquez], he was super-strong like I was last year,” he acknowledged, indicating a potential need for adjustments to the current bike setup to regain competitive footing. “We need to maybe change something on the bike to change the balance, so tomorrow will be an important day.”
Looking ahead, Bagnaia remained hopeful that the upcoming post-race test would provide opportunities to grapple with the issues impacting his performance. “Luckily, we have an important test tomorrow; we will work a lot to find a better balance because right now we are struggling,” he stated, suggesting that they are in a critical phase to rediscover the pace he once had. Bagnaia found it perplexing that turns where he previously thrived last season—particularly 11 and 12—are now significant points of concern. “This season I was struggling a lot – even more when I was behind,” he lamented.
The frustration Francesco Bagnaia feels is palpable; it is a reminder of the relentless pressures faced by top-tier athletes in a highly competitive environment. As he prepares for testing and seeks to rectify his racing challenges, his journey exemplifies the constant battle between aspiration and the reality of competitive motorsport. Bagnaia’s experience at the Spanish MotoGP underscores the unpredictable nature of racing, leaving fans and critics alike wondering how he will navigate these complexities in future races.
