Francesco Bagnaia’s Mixed Performance at the Catalan GP
Francesco Bagnaia showcased a commendable recovery during the Catalan Grand Prix, but his starting position remains a significant concern. Excluding his 2022 Portuguese GP mishap caused by slick tires on a wet track, his qualifying performance in Barcelona was his worst ever in MotoGP, having never started lower than 18th in his rookie season with Pramac in 2019.
Ducati Team’s Disappointment
Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi expressed his dismay as Bagnaia, with 25 career pole positions, ended up qualifying in 21st place, trailing behind Honda’s test rider, Aleix Espargaro. Once again, Bagnaia struggled in practice, failing to make it into the top 20 on Friday. Even after substantial improvement overnight, he could only manage a seventh-row start.
Sprint Race Struggles
Bagnaia’s performance in sprint races has been notably poor, finishing 14th in a competition with only 18 finishers. However, during the grand prix on Sunday, he made an impressive start, moving up to 12th place on the opening lap. Taking advantage of other racers’ misfortunes, he advanced into the top 10 and finished the race in seventh, engaging in fierce battles with competitors Ai Ogura and Luca Marini.
Comparative Race Analysis
The contrast between the two races was stark. On Saturday, he finished over 14 seconds behind the winner, Marc Marquez, while on Sunday, he was merely 16 seconds from the leader despite battling through the pack. Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna revealed that a new swingarm had been installed on Bagnaia’s bike, partially explaining his improvement.
Performance Trends
Despite a strong recovery, Bagnaia’s results must be scrutinized. Barcelona was expected to be a podium opportunity for him, having won the last three races there, but he fell short while teammate Marc Marquez finished second. Statistically, Bagnaia’s performance has declined over the season, now going four rounds without a podium after starting strong earlier in the year.
Confounding Issues
Bagnaia attributes part of his struggles to bike issues, citing difficulties with braking and cornering. Tardozzi acknowledged that a lack of confidence stemming from his recent results is impacting Bagnaia’s performance, suggesting he is trapped in a cycle of needing to win to regain confidence, yet needing confidence to win.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, Bagnaia expressed a desire to reassess after the upcoming Misano test, emphasizing the need for performance validation. With the potential of the new bike facing scrutiny, there’s urgency for him to find a way back to form. As Marquez edges closer to claiming his seventh title, Bagnaia recognizes that planning for a stronger comeback in 2026 may be necessary.
