Pecco Bagnaia, the Ducati MotoGP rider, is facing a daunting reality – a fundamental mismatch between his skills and the 2025 Ducati bike. Despite being just 20 points behind the championship leader, Bagnaia is struggling to keep up with the pace set by his new teammate, Marc Marquez.
The challenge for Bagnaia lies in the significant changes made to the 2025 Ducati, with key components like the engine being replaced before the season began. These alterations have left Bagnaia feeling uneasy, particularly in corner entry where he is grappling with front instability that Marquez seems to handle better.
As Bagnaia continues to search for solutions to improve his performance, he has come to terms with the fact that reverting to a 2024-spec bike is not a viable option. Despite the support from his team and Ducati, Bagnaia is finding it challenging to adapt to the new dynamics of the bike, which have deviated from his successful riding style of previous seasons.
The Italian rider expressed his frustration, stating, “I feel mad that my greatest point, that was braking-entry, is not anymore a good thing. But it is what it is.” Bagnaia’s confidence has taken a hit, and he is determined to regain his winning form by overcoming the obstacles posed by the new Ducati and his competitors.
In a bid to enhance his performance, Ducati introduced a modified chassis during testing in Jerez, which Marquez also tested on Friday. While Bagnaia considers switching to the new chassis for the upcoming races, Marquez believes it offers a higher performance ceiling for the team in the long run.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Bagnaia remains focused on reclaiming his winning ways and competing at the highest level in MotoGP. The road ahead may be tough, but his determination to succeed amid adversity is unwavering.
