FRANCESCO BAGNAIA "STRUGGLING A LOT" AFTER DISAPPOINTING MOTOGP ITALIAN GP SPRINT
A downbeat Francesco Bagnaia said it was the “same as always” as he again struggled with the front end of his bike during the Italian Grand Prix sprint race at Mugello.
The factory Ducati rider started the sprint in second, but ultimately finished third behind team-mate and race winner Marc Marquez, as well as runner-up Alex Marquez.
This was despite him briefly leading in front of his home crowd at one point and Bagnaia is now 98 points behind championship leader Marc Marquez.
“Same as always,” said double world champion Bagnaia. “I started well, then they overtook me. I get stuck behind, then I cannot close the gap, and I finish there where I am.
“It’s like this from the start of the season. And honestly, I’m struggling a lot to do what I know I can do. I know that I can enter faster, I know I can do something that I’ve seen that others are doing.
“But I can’t do it. I’m unable, and I’m struggling a lot to put speed inside the corners.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Bagnaia is yet to win a sprint race in 2025 with his only victory altogether coming at the Americas Grand Prix in Austin on 30 March.
That’s a stark contrast to last year as he won 11 grands prix, including Mugello where he also took the sprint win, and Bagnaia explained that he is still having issues with the front of his Ducati.
“The front is moving a lot, it’s locking a lot, it’s understeering a lot,” added the 2024 championship runner-up.
“And it’s a shame, because I was the only one that slowed the pace compared to last year. I was four, five tenths slower than last year when I won the sprint.
“Qualifying was very good. I was happy. I just did one mistake, and one little mistake cost me a bit.
“Then I started the race, and I was feeling good. I think, ‘okay, I can fight’. But then after three or four laps, I finished the front tyre, and it was very tough then.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s grand prix, Bagnaia said: “For tomorrow, let’s see. It depends on the condition - looks will be a bit colder.
“I think that with double the distance, my problems with the front will be worse. It’s the ninth GP, and more or less, the problem is always the same. So, we need to understand something in a different way.”
Photos from Italian GP - Qualifying & Sprint
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Luca Marini, Honda HRC
Emmanuele Ciancaglini / Ciancaphoto Studio via Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing Helmet
Aprilia Racing
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Fans
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Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Luigi Dall'igna, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda
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Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
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Fans.
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Roberto Tommasini / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Fans,
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Roberto Tommasini / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
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Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
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Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Valentino Rossi, VR46 Racing Team with his girlfriend Francesca Sofia Novello
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
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Valentino Rossi, VR46 Racing Team, Davide Brivio, Trackhouse Racing Team Principal
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Somkiat Chantra, Team LCR Honda
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Valentino Rossi, VR46 Racing Team
Emmanuele Ciancaglini / Ciancaphoto Studio via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images
Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda, Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images
Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda, Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Takaaki Nakagami, Honda HRC
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Roberto Tommasini / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing, Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Roberto Tommasini / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Emmanuele Ciancaglini / Ciancaphoto Studio via Getty Images
Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Mirco Lazzari GP / Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Team
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
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