Francesco Bagnaia says he feels “humiliated” after reaching “one of many lowest factors of my sporting profession”, saying he sees “no manner out” of his present struggles in MotoGP.
The manufacturing facility Ducati rider endured a wretched weekend in MotorLand Aragon, failing to attain a single level after ending eleventh within the dash and crashing out of Sunday’s race.
Bagnaia had been displaying speedy indicators of progress earlier than the summer season break, even scoring a dash win at Brno, however his performances have taken a noticeable downturn because the championship resumed at Silverstone earlier this month.
Following his second non-score in as many weekends, Bagnaia minimize a dejected determine in his post-race interview, seemingly shedding religion in his potential to show his marketing campaign round.
“I am there giving every little thing I can, all the time, in each scenario, each session. I arrive on the storage attempting to be as clear as attainable, as a result of in any case we’re all searching for an answer that does not come,” he defined.
“So while you then have a weekend like this, a weekend like Silverstone, you find yourself on the bottom pushing, however your pushing means lapping a second slower than the quickest, it mortifies you and above all it’s humiliating at this second.
“It’s maybe one of many lowest moments of my sporting profession, as a result of I see no manner out for the time being and the scenario is identical as within the first race. Actually, within the final two races it has nearly worsened, and subsequently it’s powerful.”
Rear grip points persist
It was clear from Friday that Bagnaia was in for a tricky weekend, as he struggled to thirteenth in Apply whereas all different Ducati riders efficiently earned a direct promotion into Q2. The Italian even admitted to stopping on monitor after the session to calm himself down, as he didn’t wish to return to the storage whereas nonetheless being offended at himself.
Qualifying confirmed indicators of progress, however he had no tempo to battle for a top-10 outcome within the dash.
On Sunday, he was holding on to seventh place earlier than he slid into the gravel on lap six of 23.
“For me, the shortage of grip from the rear is an excessive amount of,” Bagnaia added. “As a result of the truth is that I’ve zero grip. Utterly zero grip.
“I put the [engine] map with much less energy after 5 laps as a result of the rear was utterly completed in 5 laps. With out pushing, with out doing something. So I used to be struggling rather a lot. I misplaced the rear, and when the rear got here again, I misplaced the entrance.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Photograph by: Qian Jun / MB Media / Getty Pictures
Apprehensive about future
Bagnaia has struggled with persistent rear grip points all yr lengthy, with Aragon’s high-traction asphalt doing little to alleviate the issue.
After struggling at one of many grippiest tracks on the calendar, Bagnaia was left to marvel what would occur on the remaining rounds of the season.
“From Silverstone, one thing occurred as a result of I haven’t got grip,” he stated. “Utterly zero. I do not know once we will arrive in different circuits the place the extent of grip is decrease. So I can not think about it.”
He added: “I gave every little thing I may to Ducati, in all conditions. It is tough now to just accept that the scenario could be like this regardless of the hassle I put into it.
“I take a look at the information, even outdated knowledge, and the issues I see others doing now do not come to me anymore. So I am in a scenario the place with as we speak’s bike I can not trip in a pure manner, and when I attempt to do one thing extra, I crash.”
Self-doubts
Bagnaia was already recovering from a tough 2025 season wherein his performances fluctuated closely from race to race, culminating in six retirements within the final seven grands prix.
Requested if he had begun doubting himself after his newest struggles in 2026, the two-time MotoGP champion stated: “However that is one thing I used to be falling into final yr, after which fortuitously got here the take a look at in Misano and the race in Japan. And there I eliminated each single doubt and I noticed that I simply must really feel good and I am nonetheless within the sport to battle with the highest three.”
Requested if he may repeat his dominant Japan efficiency this yr, he added: “I do not know, however I hope so.”
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