The Italian driver continues to struggle with the GP25: “I would like to start from scratch.” Team manager Tardozzi admits: “We did everything to help him”
Francesco Bagnaia’s nightmare season seems to know no end between bad luck and retirements. The latest chapter in this series of negative episodes took shape in Portimao: after eighth place in the Sprint, the Ducati rider crashed during the eleventh lap of the long race, while occupying fourth position. A heavy “zero” because it almost definitively sees the last step of the MotoGP world podium disappear. And we must not forget that Pedro Acosta could even overtake him in Valencia, thus taking fourth place. The negative moment induces careful reflections, as also suggested by the words of Bagnaia himself and Davide Tardozzi after the Portuguese match.
RESTART
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The Portuguese GP exalted Marco Bezzecchi, winner for the second time this season. And even Aprilia is starting to scare after the third hit in 2025. To the media present in Portimao, however, Bagnaia reiterates that it is not yet time to evaluate a technical overtaking: “I think that the Ducati is the best bike in every aspect: reliability, handling, aerodynamics… Yet this year we are struggling to fully exploit its potential. Or rather: it happens to me. We are trying to understand how to improve”. The words frame well the discomfort experienced by Pecco, who then added another consideration, reported by the Spanish newspaper Brand: “I knew in advance that this year I would be very close to always crashing, in any situation. Personally, I would like to start over. I would like to start from scratch and, perhaps, work differently, as I did in the last two races.” Therefore it is time for reflection at Ducati, as implied by Tardozzi’s words.
DUCATI HERE
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The Lenovo training team manager is closely following the difficulties experienced by Bagnaia. Davide confirmed his confidence in his driver when speaking with Sky Sports: “His speed has never been in question. Unfortunately he doesn’t have confidence with the bike which puts him in difficulty.” What can Ducati do to reverse the trend? Tardozzi admitted: “We have done everything to put him back in the conditions of last year or at least as in the race in Japan. If something is still missing we will have to talk to each other, clarify why and understand how to reach a conclusion. We could do it before Valencia, where we hope he can return to fighting for the podium.” Do these statements raise doubts about Pecco’s stay in Ducati after 2026? At the moment the parties ensure maximum mutual support. Certainly, however, the presence of Marc Marquez has been cumbersome for Bagnaia during this season and could confirm itself as such in the next championship too. Furthermore, the interest of Honda and Yamaha in the three-time world champion, including two in MotoGP (2022 and 2023), should not be overlooked. Intense months promise.
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