MotoGP’s Pecco Bagnaia is in a slump, and he’s not afraid to admit it—but is the problem really him, or is there something deeper at play? For the fifth time in the last six races, the Piedmont-born rider failed to cross the finish line, crashing out for the fourth time in this recent stretch. When he went down, Bagnaia was nowhere near podium contention, resulting in another DNF. This latest setback has cemented Marco Bezzecchi’s grip on third place in the championship, while Pedro Acosta is now breathing down his neck, threatening to push him out of fourth place entirely. But here’s where it gets controversial: Bagnaia insists the Ducati is still the best bike on the grid—so why can’t he unlock its full potential?
Despite the disappointing result, Bagnaia tried to focus on the positives. “Compared to yesterday, we made a small step forward that helped me a bit,” he explained. “Today, my pace was better, but clearly not enough to achieve the results I’m aiming for. The best I could manage was a potential fourth place, and I gave it everything to secure that position. I was pushing hard and lost the front end while braking—nothing unusual, just a racing incident.”
When asked about losing third place in the championship, Bagnaia was quick to deflect praise. “Bezzecchi deserves that spot much more than I do right now,” he admitted. And this is the part most people miss: Bagnaia’s humility isn’t just about sportsmanship—it’s a reflection of his struggle to reconcile his talent with his recent performance.
Did he feel he’d made progress this weekend? “Compared to Indonesia, yes. But compared to Japan, no,” he joked. “I know what I’m capable of, and I know what the team can do. Unfortunately, we’re missing something, and we need to find a solution for the future. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s going wrong, and the team is working tirelessly to figure it out. I think we did a solid job this weekend, similar to Sepang. We need to keep this momentum going, but these results aren’t what we’re striving for. We want to fight for victories, and today, an Aprilia took the win. We have to stay focused on our ultimate goal.”
Speaking of Aprilia’s win, did Bagnaia think they’d outperformed Ducati in areas like aerodynamics? “No, I still believe the Ducati is the best bike across the board—reliability, rideability, aerodynamics,” he stated firmly. “But this year, I’m struggling to harness its full potential. Is it the rider, or is there something more systemic at play? That’s the question dividing fans and experts alike.
Could Marc Marquez’s absence be masking underlying issues with the GP25? “I’m more focused on my own experience right now,” Bagnaia replied. “It’s been a tough period, but in the last two races, we’ve worked better, and we need to build on that.”
Interestingly, Bagnaia’s recent crashes—four in the last six races—stand in stark contrast to his earlier season performance. “Even before this stretch, I was always on the edge, pushing in every situation,” he explained. “At Phillip Island, I made it clear I’m done finishing at the back. I’m giving it everything I’ve got, but unfortunately, that’s led to more falls. It’s frustrating—I’ve thrown away so many points.”
Did he ever consider easing off, especially with no immediate threat from behind? “As a rider who wants to win, I’m not focused on who’s behind me—I’m focused on who’s in front,” he said. “I wanted to catch Acosta, even though he was faster than me. That’s the mindset you need to compete at this level.”
With just one race left in a grueling 21-Grand Prix season, Bagnaia admitted it’s felt longer than usual. “In my situation, it definitely has,” he said with a laugh. “If I were winning, it wouldn’t feel this way. But that’s racing—when you’re struggling, every race feels like an uphill battle.”
Does he need a break? “Honestly, I’d rather the new season start tomorrow,” he confessed. “I want a fresh start, maybe with a different approach, like we’ve had in the last two races.”
Looking ahead, will the post-Valencia GP test on Tuesday reveal anything significant? “We’ll see,” he said cautiously. “I think there’ll be more substantial changes in the February tests in Malaysia, but I haven’t looked at the Valencia schedule yet. I’m just hoping my performance improves.”
So, what do you think? Is Bagnaia’s struggle a matter of rider error, or is there something more going on with the Ducati? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
