Bagnaia Rediscovers Pace: Ducati Star Finds Renewed Confidence Despite French GP Setback
After a somewhat subdued start to the season, Pecco Bagnaia appears to have rediscovered the path to the sharp end of the MotoGP hierarchy. Despite a frustrating crash at the French Grand Prix, the Ducati rider exudes a renewed sense of belief, convinced he has unlocked the issues that have hampered him for over a year.
The recent French Grand Prix at Le Mans, while dominated by Jorge Martín and a strong Aprilia showing, could prove to be a pivotal moment for Pecco Bagnaia. Although the main race ended in a disappointing crash for the Italian, the weekend was marked by a significant revelation: the reigning world champion believes he has finally found the key to taming his Ducati and challenging the frontrunners once more.
A Jerez Epiphany: The Right Direction Found
Throughout the early part of the 2025 season, Pecco Bagnaia grappled with the behaviour of his bike’s front end. Only the Japanese Grand Prix, which he dominated but couldn’t fully explain his surge in form, offered a glimmer of hope. Despite discernible progress in subsequent races, a gap to the leaders persisted. That changed after the Jerez test. Modifications made there paid dividends at Le Mans, where Bagnaia secured pole position and a second-place finish in the sprint race. Even in the main Grand Prix, prior to his fall, he was running a strong second, proving the new direction was indeed the correct one.
“After the Jerez test, we found a direction that worked very well at Le Mans,” Bagnaia commented this Thursday, ahead of the Catalan Grand Prix. “We worked a lot on the details and made progress session by session. We were also performing well in race conditions, which had been our weak point this season.”
Pecco Bagnaia demonstrated strong pace at Le Mans before his crash.
Challenging Aprilia: A Realistic Goal
Aprilia’s dominance at the start of the season had relegated Ducati and its riders to an underdog status. However, Bagnaia is now convinced that the gap has significantly narrowed. The work undertaken at Le Mans has brought him considerably closer to the Italian machines, and he feels he was able to match their pace. This confirmation is crucial, validating the path explored during the recent test and the French weekend.
“I think with the work done at Le Mans, we were much closer. And I believe that up to that point, we were able to maintain their pace,” the Ducati rider asserts. “It’s extremely important for us, and we understand that the direction taken at the last test and the previous GP was the right one. We’ll see if we can get even closer. It’s a circuit where they are very strong, but we’ll see. I think now, I have a higher chance of fighting with them.”
The Frustration of an Avoidable Crash
Despite this rediscovered satisfaction, the crash at Le Mans left a bitter taste. The Italian, known for his passionate nature, did not hide his frustration, even expressing his displeasure vehemently after the incident. This reaction, while understandable, masks a deep-seated joy at regaining lost sensations.
“I didn’t hurt anyone! I need to practice my reactions a bit because I almost fell again,” Bagnaia joked, before explaining the source of his anger. “When, for the first time in a season and a half, you’re fast again, you can fight for a position again, you can make overtakes, you can find the limit, and then you crash… Damn it, I was really unhappy. And I still am!”
After the race, Bagnaia revealed that his crash was linked to a similar issue encountered at Jerez – a problem with front-end feel during braking. “We’ve identified it, and it won’t happen again, that’s for sure,” he assured on Thursday. “But it wasn’t a technical problem, so everything is resolved.” Team principal Davide Tardozzi remained tight-lipped on the specifics, confirming no mechanical failure but hinting at an element that had “bothered” the rider.
Pecco Bagnaia is now focused on confirming his progress.
Barcelona: A New Test to Confirm Gains
The Barcelona circuit, host to the next round of the championship, presents a unique challenge. While Pecco Bagnaia enjoys the track layout, he experienced difficulties there last year, a stark contrast to his victory the year before. This Catalan weekend will therefore be an excellent barometer to confirm that the breakthrough felt at Le Mans is not a flash in the pan. The objective is clear: capitalise on his rediscovered performance and demonstrate that Ducati is back in the title fight.
“It’s a slightly different circuit, in terms of grip level and layout. It’s always been good for me, but we’ll have to see if we can be competitive from the start and leverage the performance we had at Le Mans. Last year, it was one of my worst MotoGP races. I was close to last place in all sessions, whereas the year before, I won both races. I hope we’ve found a solution. Good work, like we did at Le Mans, could help us.”
Key Takeaways:
- Pecco Bagnaia has regained confidence following technical and setup adjustments after the Jerez test.
- The Ducati rider believes he has resolved his front-end feel issues that had hampered him for over a year.
- Despite a crash at Le Mans, he feels capable of challenging the leaders, particularly the Aprilias, once again.
- The frustration of the crash is evident, but it masks a deep satisfaction at finding winning pace again.
- Barcelona will be a crucial test to confirm these improvements and signal Ducati’s return to championship contention.
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