Francesco Bagnaia expressed that he is not overly concerned about his disappointing start to the 2026 MotoGP season after finishing ninth at the Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram. Despite the rocky opening weekend and recent struggles, the Ducati rider remains confident he can regain his form as the season progresses.
The Italian arrived at the Buriram circuit aiming to bounce back from a difficult 2025 season, in which he won twice but was generally unable to match the pace of his championship-winning teammate Marc Marquez. Pre-season testing had suggested he had overcome last year’s issues, as he quickly adapted to the GP26 bike and posted competitive lap times.
Challenges at Buriram Hinder Bagnaia’s Race Weekend Rhythm
Although Bagnaia showed promise during testing, he struggled to replicate that form during the actual race weekend in Thailand. Mistakes in qualifying left him starting from 13th on the grid, and despite climbing to ninth at the start of the race, he was unable to advance further, eventually finishing just inside the top 10. Late retirements from riders including Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, and Joan Mir helped preserve his points finish.
Commenting on his difficulties, Bagnaia said,
“With eight laps to go, I started to spin till fifth gear on the straight. It was very strange, and I lost other positions. It was impossible to remain at a constant pace, even if I was controlling a lot at the start.”
– Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
The extreme track conditions in Thailand played a role in the weekend’s challenges, as temperatures reached as high as 58 degrees Celsius. Michelin supplied a special tyre carcass for the Buriram race, which also contributed to teammate Marco Bezzecchi’s dominant performance on his Aprilia machine.
Ducati’s Workshop Setbacks and Bagnaia’s Struggles to Match Rivals
Ducati’s overall lack of pace at Buriram compounded Bagnaia’s difficulties, as the team was unable to find solutions that would allow him to compete at the front. Carrying the burden of ending 2025 with five consecutive race retirements, Bagnaia views his ninth-place result as a foundation from which to build rather than a failure.
He explained,
“I think finishing the season as I finished last year was important to restart and to start building the speed again. I’m not that worried about my result. It’s true that it’s not a position I want to finish, but it’s a point of start.”
– Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Bagnaia acknowledged that while FP1 was his strongest session, his performance declined as the weekend progressed, noting a sharp contrast from his capabilities during pre-season testing. He added that controlling tyre wear remained a major issue, saying,
“We just need to improve, because right now we are not anymore the fastest.”
– Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Identifying Weaknesses Compared to Last Year’s Performance
Although Bagnaia faced challenges at Buriram last year, he managed to reach the podium with a third-place finish behind Marc and Alex Marquez. This season, the gap in competitiveness has widened.
Discussing the differences, Bagnaia stated,
“Others made an improvement and we made a step back. So we need to understand why.”
– Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
When pressed further about specific areas of decline, he pointed out the difficulty in tyre management due to diminished bike handling.
“Controlling the tyre. Because our bike is turning a bit less. In the test, no, but on the race weekend, the bike was turning a bit less. It was very difficult to manage the rear tyre with the throttle.”
– Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Looking Ahead: Building Momentum Despite Current Struggles
As the 2026 MotoGP season unfolds, Bagnaia faces the challenge of regaining the pace and rhythm that once made him a front-runner. His resilience and focus on understanding the technical shortcomings of the Ducati GP26 could prove critical in closing the gap to rivals like Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi. With improvements needed in tyre management and bike handling, the factory Ducati team must act swiftly to stay competitive in a highly demanding championship.
Bagnaia’s candid acknowledgment of current limitations, combined with the experience of his teammates and the Ducati development program, suggests that while the struggles are real, the Italian rider remains determined to overcome them as the season progresses.
