Having completed Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix in a disappointing eighth place, two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia claims he’s at a loss to “clarify this kind of efficiency” on a observe the place he was unbeaten within the earlier three seasons.
With the MotoGP subject having returned to motion following its well-deserved summer time break, Ducati has continued its dominant type within the 2025 MotoGP. Though Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi snatched pole place on Saturday, Marc Márquez grabbed victory within the Spielberg MotoGP Dash.
In Sunday’s 28-lap Spielberg race, Francesco Bagnaia took a terrific begin to transfer himself as much as third, however his team-mate Marc Márquez handed him on Lap 2.
Having moved himself forward of Bagnaia, Márquez started his chase of race chief Marco Bezzecchi. He then overtook his rival after a hard-fought battle on lap 20, and appeared heading in the right direction to take one other dominant victory.
Nonetheless, within the closing phases, Márquez needed to defend the lead from the resurging Fermin Aldeguer. The Gresini Ducati rider diplayed eye-catching tempo within the dying phases of the race, however Márquez saved his composure to assert his first victory on the Pink Bull Ring.
His team-mate Bagnaia held third place for two-thirds of the Spielberg spherical. Nonetheless, he then began to battle to maintain his rear tyre alive, and he step by step misplaced floor and finally crossed the end line in eighth place.
Commenting on his disappointing consequence at Spielberg, Bagnaia acknowledged: “It’s tough to clarify this kind of efficiency, particularly on a observe the place I’ve at all times been robust. I bought a superb begin and every little thing appeared good within the opening laps, though I didn’t have the identical tempo because the frontrunners.
“The concept was to remain calm and produce residence the absolute best consequence, however then I started to decelerate as quickly as I misplaced help from the rear-end. As we speak I discovered myself battling for the highest eight and was 12 seconds behind the winner on the line – my tempo was sluggish.
“The weekend began off very properly and the tempo proven on each Friday and Saturday morning was a superb one. Then we all know how the Dash and race went, and it’s a pity. The potential is there, however we are able to’t specific it within the race proper now.”
Talking to DAZN, Bagnaia conceded that he struggles to search out the explanations for “why issues aren’t understanding for me.”
“What has been taking place all yr has occurred once more,” the double world champion informed DAZN. “I struggle and provides it my all. However this time, giving it my all, I completed eighth. The winner did it in the identical time it took me to win final yr. So I’ve the potential.
“I don’t know why issues aren’t understanding for me. [Third-place finisher] Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez did every little thing higher than me. That I completed 12 seconds behind on a circuit the place I at all times made a distinction is one thing I don’t perceive, and can by no means perceive.”
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