Bagnaia Clings to Hope After Disappointing MotoGP Campaign

Francesco Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP champion, expressed his enduring optimism despite concluding what he termed "maybe the worst" season of his career, marked by a series of setbacks and diminished performance.

Bagnaia’s remarks followed the Valencia Grand Prix, the final race of the season, where an early incident forced his retirement. Johann Zarco of LCR Honda made an ill-judged maneuver, sending Bagnaia into the gravel trap a mere four corners into the race. Stewards deemed Zarco responsible for the collision, issuing a long lap penalty that relegated him to a 12th-place finish. Bagnaia, however, was left to watch the race’s unfolding from Turn 4 before returning to the paddock, forgoing the marshal’s offer of a scooter ride.

This Valencia incident marked Bagnaia’s fifth consecutive retirement from a MotoGP race. His last Sunday race finish was at the Japanese Grand Prix in September, where he achieved a commanding victory from pole position. The stark contrast between that victory and his subsequent struggles underscores the challenges he faced throughout the season.

Bagnaia’s difficulties stemmed from his struggles with the GP25, a bike he felt was incompatible with his riding style and unpredictable in its on-track behavior. Despite securing several podium finishes in the first half of the season, his performance declined sharply after the summer break. He frequently failed to advance into Q2 during Saturdays’ qualifying sessions and found himself trailing at the back of the pack on Sundays.

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This late-season slump caused him to drop from third to fifth in the championship standings. He was overtaken by Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia and Pedro Acosta of KTM, a sophomore rider, both of whom demonstrated stronger form in the latter part of the season.

Despite his disappointment, Bagnaia refrained from blaming Zarco for the Valencia crash. Instead, he focused on the upcoming Valencia test on Tuesday, hoping it would provide a much-needed boost before the winter break.

"One of the hardest [seasons] and maybe the worst season I had – mostly the last part," Bagnaia said, summarizing his challenging campaign. "There is not much more to say about it. I said enough during the season."

He added, "Now, I’m just looking forward to riding the bike in the test, hoping that we will find a solution. I’m a dreamer, so I’m still thinking and believing it will be possible, and see if we can start with a good pace for the test in February."

Bagnaia started the Valencia weekend at a disadvantage, failing to secure direct entry into Q2 on Friday. Qualifying was further complicated by a fuel miscalculation, relegating him to 16th on the grid. He managed only 14th in the sprint race, and while he launched well in the grand prix, the Zarco incident cut his race short after just a few corners.

Bagnaia expressed a philosophical outlook, suggesting he had been "attracting negativity," with one setback seemingly triggering another during the final stretch of races in 2025.

"Crashing today, having an issue yesterday [Saturday], having an issue on a Friday morning," he noted, "Negativity is never the key, and when you start to have negative thinking, you attract it. I attract negative feelings, and it’s what happened to us, I think."

He also acknowledged the toll the season took on his team. "Everybody was tired, and the season was quite tough for everybody – it was long. And if you’re enjoying during the season, even if it’s long, you arrive in a quite easy way in the last part. In our situation, we were reaching top three in the championship, and then not reaching [this target]. I was aiming for the top two, one or two, in the championship, and then what happened happened."

Bagnaia continued, "Also, the team started to be tired, like me, and it’s difficult to work in that situation. I made many mistakes, like yesterday in qualifying for not being able to already be fast in the first attempt, and the team also did one [fuel miscalculation]. But it’s part of the job."

Bagnaia’s contract with Ducati is set to expire at the end of 2026, just before the introduction of MotoGP’s new 850cc engine era. While Ducati enjoyed overall success in the 2025 MotoGP season, sweeping all three titles with the arrival of Marc Marquez in the factory garage, Bagnaia’s dip in form has raised concerns within Borgo Panigale and sparked speculation about the team’s long-term plans.

Despite the rumors, the 28-year-old emphasized his commitment to remaining with Ducati, the team with which he secured his 2022 and 2023 titles and finished as runner-up last year.

"I want to continue with Ducati," he affirmed. "I started with Ducati. They gave me the possibility. They gave me the chance to win the title. I gave them the title. We improved the bike [over the years]. Now it’s a bike that everybody can use. My ambition is to finish my career with them."

Background and Statistical Context:

Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia, born in Turin, Italy, has been a prominent figure in MotoGP since his debut. He is known for his aggressive riding style and exceptional braking ability. Bagnaia’s career highlights include:

2018: Moto2 World Champion.
2019: MotoGP debut with Pramac Racing.
2021: First MotoGP race win at the Aragon Grand Prix.
2022: MotoGP World Champion with Ducati Lenovo Team.
2023: MotoGP World Champion with Ducati Lenovo Team.

Ducati’s recent success in MotoGP is attributed to their advanced Desmosedici bike, known for its powerful engine and sophisticated electronics. The team’s ability to adapt and innovate has kept them at the forefront of the sport. However, adapting the bike to suit the rider is paramount.

Rider Performance Analysis:

Bagnaia’s struggles during the latter part of the 2025 season can be attributed to a combination of factors:

Bike Setup: Bagnaia’s discomfort with the GP25 bike’s setup hindered his ability to ride at his full potential.
Tire Management: Managing tire wear became increasingly challenging as the season progressed, impacting his race pace.
Mental Fatigue: The demanding MotoGP schedule and pressure to perform contributed to mental fatigue, affecting his decision-making.
Increased Competition: The rise of riders like Marco Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta intensified the competition, making it harder to secure podium finishes.

Ducati’s Perspective:

Ducati’s management is aware of Bagnaia’s recent struggles and is committed to providing him with the necessary support to return to his winning form. The team will analyze data from the Valencia test and work closely with Bagnaia to address his concerns about the GP25 bike.

Upcoming Valencia Test:

The Valencia test, scheduled for Tuesday, is crucial for Bagnaia and Ducati. It provides an opportunity to:

Evaluate New Components: Test new engine and chassis components to improve the GP25 bike’s performance.
Optimize Bike Setup: Fine-tune the bike’s setup to better suit Bagnaia’s riding style.
Regain Confidence: Boost Bagnaia’s confidence by providing him with a more competitive and predictable bike.

Looking Ahead:

Despite the challenges he faced in 2025, Francesco Bagnaia remains a formidable competitor. With Ducati’s support and his unwavering determination, he is expected to bounce back and contend for the MotoGP title in the coming seasons. However, a big change may come sooner than expected with the looming 850cc engine era, of which he is contracted with Ducati up until that point.

His relationship with Ducati is what keeps Bagnaia wanting to work with the team. "I want to continue with Ducati," he affirmed, a strong indication that he has no intentions of going elsewhere in the immediate future.