Fuel Tank Again Blamed: Pecco Bagnaia’s Fury at Qatar MotoGP – Truth or Excuse?

Reigning MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia faced yet another frustrating sprint race at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, citing fuel tank issues as the primary reason behind his underwhelming eighth-place finish. Despite showing strong pace in free practice on Friday, Bagnaia failed to convert his speed into a podium, let alone a win, in Saturday’s sprint. The Italian once again found himself blaming the modified fuel tank setup used specifically for sprint races, an element that seems to be recurring in his recent struggles.

The Ducati rider’s dismal qualifying position and the challenges he faced in slicing through the pack mirrored problems he’s experienced in previous sprint events, raising questions about the balance and setup of his Desmosedici under reduced fuel loads.

Fuel Tank Troubles Continue to Haunt Bagnaia

Bagnaia’s complaints about the sprint-specific fuel tank aren’t new. In fact, they have become a consistent theme across the last three MotoGP seasons. The shorter format of sprint races requires a different fuel load compared to Sunday’s full Grand Prix, which in turn alters the bike’s balance—something Bagnaia says significantly affects his ability to perform.

“Starting from P11, I expected to face a bit of a challenge,” Bagnaia told reporters after the sprint. “It’s been three years now where I start further back in sprints and really struggle to pass. We’re still trying to understand why, but I always feel the same.”

He pinpointed the altered balance as a major obstacle, stating, “The only difference is the fuel tank. So, we need to improve it. I need to improve it.”

The Ducati machine, known for its brutal straight-line speed and powerful acceleration, becomes much harder to tame when the balance shifts forward due to a lower fuel load. Bagnaia admitted that he had more confidence in the full race setup and expected to perform better in the Sunday Grand Prix, where the fuel tank would be filled to normal levels.

“I’m more confident for tomorrow,” he said. “I know my potential and pace can be a lot stronger.”

A Disastrous Qualifying Session Ruins Momentum

While Bagnaia’s criticism focused on the fuel tank, his qualifying mishap also contributed heavily to his poor grid position and limited progress in the sprint. During the second session of qualifying (Q2), he crashed at Turn 4 while trying to make up time, having found himself only ninth after his first flying lap.

“Yesterday and this morning, I felt amazing on the bike,” Bagnaia explained. “The first run in qualifying didn’t go as expected, so I pushed hard on the second. I went a bit too fast into Turn 4 and lost it. That was my mistake.”

With limited opportunities to make up lost ground and increased competition at the front, Bagnaia’s crash left him starting 11th on the grid. That incident essentially boxed him into mid-pack chaos for the sprint, where overtaking is notoriously difficult—especially on a bike he believes isn’t optimized for the shorter format.

Frustration Grows as Teammate Marc Marquez Wins the Sprint

To add salt to the wound, Bagnaia’s new Ducati teammate, Marc Marquez, stormed to a commanding sprint race victory, finishing over 10 seconds ahead of Bagnaia. Marquez’s ability to extract maximum performance from the same machinery made Bagnaia’s complaints appear even more pointed and personal.

“The issue is every time I struggle to overtake and have to brake aggressively,” Bagnaia admitted. “On Sunday, the feeling is completely different. I can overtake six or seven riders per lap. That’s why it’s frustrating—it makes people angrier.”

His comments suggest a growing mental strain. Watching a teammate adjust to the Ducati and succeed in sprints, while he battles with the bike’s balance, must be disheartening for the reigning world champion. The contrast between Marquez’s ability to adapt and Bagnaia’s continued frustrations underscores a deeper issue that Ducati may need to address if it wants to optimize both riders’ performance.

Still Fighting for Points: A Silver Lining

Despite all the setbacks, Bagnaia did manage to secure two valuable championship points by finishing eighth—an outcome he saw as better than nothing.

“Today could have been a zero,” Bagnaia said. “So we know how important every point is. We need to keep going like this.”

Heading into the Qatar weekend, Bagnaia was already trailing the championship leader by 12 points. After Saturday’s sprint, that gap widened to 21 points. With every sprint now carrying weight in the title race, each underperformance compounds the pressure to deliver on Sundays.

Bagnaia knows this, and he didn’t shy away from admitting the urgency: “We cannot finish eighth when we are fighting with a rider like Marc. In the future, we need to fix this. Tomorrow, I must score as many points as possible—or at least lose as few as I can.”

Can Bagnaia Make a Comeback in the Grand Prix?

The full-length Grand Prix on Sunday presents Bagnaia with a chance to redeem himself. With a setup that better suits his riding style and a full fuel tank restoring balance to his Desmosedici, the Italian believes he can mount a significant charge from P11.

“Tomorrow I’ll pass 10 riders in one lap—I’ll try,” he joked, clearly trying to lighten the mood. But behind the humor lies a serious determination to claw back ground in the championship and reassert himself as the team’s top contender.

Bagnaia will need more than jokes and optimism to challenge Marquez, though. If Ducati wants to see a title challenge from both riders, they must address the fuel tank setup that continues to haunt Bagnaia during sprint races. Whether it’s a physical adjustment or a psychological crutch, something needs to change.

Looking Ahead: Sprint Performance Crucial in 2025 Title Race

The 2025 MotoGP season places even more emphasis on sprint races, with championship points available in every Saturday contest. As such, any repeated poor performances in sprints can have massive implications for the title chase.

For Bagnaia, who built his previous title runs on consistency and race-day dominance, the sprint format exposes a vulnerability. The inability to start well or make early overtakes—combined with issues caused by lighter fuel loads—means he’s leaving valuable points on the table almost every weekend.

In contrast, Marc Marquez’s sprint adaptability is shaping him into a title favorite. The multiple-time world champion has historically thrived in short bursts of aggression, and his quick chemistry with the Ducati has put pressure on Bagnaia to respond quickly.

If Ducati wants to maintain harmony within the team and ensure a two-pronged championship fight, they will need to address Bagnaia’s concerns seriously. The fuel tank might seem like a small mechanical issue, but in the ultra-competitive world of MotoGP, even the smallest details can define a championship.

Conclusion: Pressure Mounts for the Defending Champion

Pecco Bagnaia finds himself in a complex position. While still one of the fastest riders on the grid and reigning world champion, his inconsistent sprint performance, combined with mechanical complaints about the Ducati’s fuel tank, has created a recurring narrative of struggle. His eighth-place finish in the Qatar Sprint, coupled with Marc Marquez’s victory, is a wake-up call—not just for Bagnaia, but for Ducati as a whole.

As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Bagnaia can adapt, overcome his Saturday struggles, and return to his dominant Sunday form. Because in today’s MotoGP, every race—sprint or not—matters.

If he can’t resolve these issues soon, the champion might find himself playing catch-up not just to his rivals, but to his own teammate. And with Marquez breathing down his neck in both speed and swagger, the path to defending his title looks more treacherous than ever.