What Bagnaia discovered by rewatching his recent best MotoGP races

Francesco Bagnaia has revealed that he spent part of MotoGP’s summer break rewatching races from recent years to convince himself that the current Ducati doesn’t suit his riding style – and to reignite his hunger to find the speed he once had.

Given his impressive track record and his status as a double world champion, this year has been Bagnaia’s toughest since his debut in the premier class back in 2019.

In his early years with Pramac Ducati, the Turin native was asked to have fun and gain experience. In 2021, as an official Ducati rider, he finished runner-up in the championship, setting up his back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, before Jorge Martin edged him to the crown last season.

This year, however, the arrival of Marc Marquez at Ducati’s factory team – and the overwhelming superiority the Catalan has shown – has left Bagnaia exposed. Even more so considering that Alex, the younger Marquez brother, is also ahead of Bagnaia in the standings.

At odds with the current Desmosedici GP25 since winter testing began, Bagnaia has repeatedly said he can’t exploit the strengths of his riding style with it – especially when braking and entering corners.

The contrast between Marquez (eight double wins and 10 Sunday podiums) and Bagnaia (one grand prix win and seven Sunday podiums) is so stark it would make anyone doubt themselves. Bagnaia attempted to erase said doubts this summer by revisiting past performances in which he was able to make a difference on the bike.

“Over the summer, apart from the first week when I rested a lot, I analysed many things from the past,” he revealed as the MotoGP circus returns to action in Austria this weekend. “I watched races from the last few years and then compared them to the first half of this season. It looks like I’m a different rider.

“The conclusion is that my riding style has not adapted to this year’s bike. It won’t be easy because I’ll have to change many things, since the bike’s DNA has changed. That’s why we’ll have to go step by step.”

Bagnaia said he had watched the reruns not only to gain technical insights but also for the mental aspect: “I picked my best past races and reviewed them, also to remind myself of what I was capable of doing, and where I want to be.”

Despite the difficulties he’s facing, Bagnaia has set himself the goal of improving his feel with the GP25: “In my mind, the goal is to recover my speed; the results will come afterwards. But first I need to feel good with the bike – not fight against it.”

Bagnaia’s first chance to resume that quest came in Free Practice 1 this morning at the Red Bull Ring.

While Bagnaia was part of a Ducati 1-2 at the top of the timesheets, his best lap was 0.310s shy of team-mate Marquez. Both riders ran the same tyre compounds throughout but, according to MotoGP data, Marquez fitted a new front tyre shortly before registering his best lap.