Ducati MotoGP rider Pecco Bagnaia acknowledges that there is a fundamental disconnect between his skills and the capabilities of the 2025 bike, despite it making him “mad.”
Currently, Bagnaia is only 20 points behind the championship leader after five races. However, he has not been the fastest rider during these rounds, with his new teammate Marc Marquez consistently demonstrating superior pace.
During Friday practice at Le Mans, this trend continued as Bagnaia finished third, just 0.184 seconds behind the leader.
Although much of the new Ducati for 2025 was scrapped in preseason—especially the new engine—the changes that remain have left Bagnaia feeling unsettled, particularly regarding corner entry. He initially struggled to manage a controlled rear slide, but now grapples with a general front instability that Marquez seems to handle with greater ease.
After hoping for clarity from the first in-season test at Jerez, Bagnaia has come to terms with the fact that there is no quick solution. Reflecting on this at Le Mans, he said, “I finally understood after six grands prix that the bike no longer meets my needs. I must seek performance through different methods.”
Qualifying Gaps to Marquez
Thailand: 0.173s
Argentina: 0.351s
Austin: 0.523s
Qatar: 1.081s
Spain: 0.112s
He added, “This season, I feel much more movement at the front during braking. Today, I tried to adapt personally instead of relying solely on bike adjustments, and it ultimately worked. Although I lack confidence, it’s essential for my competitiveness. It frustrates me that my strong point, braking-entry, is no longer an asset. But this is reality.”
Bagnaia argued against reverting to a 2024-spec bike, noting that while Marquez’s performance underscores the potential of the new Ducati Desmosedici, both his team and Ducati are making commendable efforts to support his adaptation.
However, he expressed concern about the challenge of adapting since he has been riding in a similar fashion since 2020. “The bikes have changed, but my feeling during braking has been consistent—until this season. I can’t regain that sensation,” he remarked, indicating that his confidence is not at its peak, although he believes the current performance is below his previous achievements in MotoGP.
Chassis Specifications
Ducati tested a revised chassis in Jerez, which Marquez used during Friday’s practice. Although Bagnaia hasn’t fully evaluated it yet, he mentioned the possibility of switching to it after the Aragon race in June.
Marquez commented that the chassis modification was a Ducati initiative and not necessarily a performance upgrade. While it enabled him to set a new record MotoGP lap on Friday, he maintained that his standard bike could also achieve such pace. He believes the new chassis offers a potentially higher performance ceiling moving forward.
Marquez stated, “I don’t know why, but that’s what they told me. For now, I feel good with both bikes, which is the most important part.” Despite Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo getting close in timing, Marquez had the confidence to opt for a medium rear tire after setting an impressive first lap time, suggesting he could still increase his pace when needed.
