MotoGP Italy: Francesco Bagnaia Reveals Rear Tire Change – Key to a ‘Fantastic’ Friday in Mugello

Francesco Bagnaia may have finished second on the timesheets after Friday practice at the 2025 Italian MotoGP, but the reigning world champion’s opening day at Mugello was anything but straightforward. Wrestling with a strange-feeling Ducati Desmosedici GP25 for much of the day, Bagnaia’s turning point came down to one simple decision — changing the rear tyre.

That single change transformed Bagnaia’s confidence, returned his dominant Mugello feeling, and reestablished the Italian as a favorite heading into the weekend at his home circuit.

Bagnaia’s Mugello Legacy: A Winning Streak in Tuscany

Francesco Bagnaia entered the weekend as the man to beat at Mugello, having claimed three consecutive Italian Grand Prix victories at the historic Tuscan venue. For the Ducati Lenovo Team, Mugello is not just another race — it’s a national celebration and a symbolic stronghold of Ducati dominance.

Naturally, expectations were sky-high for Bagnaia. But as Friday morning unfolded, it became clear that not all was going according to plan.

“This morning I was a bit upset because the bike was making weird things, weird movements, so I was not understanding it,” Bagnaia admitted in a post-practice interview with MotoGP.com.

His early discomfort threatened to derail momentum at a track where he has typically found immediate pace.

Mysterious “Weird Movements” on the Ducati GP25

Bagnaia described his Friday morning session as confusing and frustrating, citing unexpected behavior from the Desmosedici GP25 that left him second-guessing setup and direction.

From strange rear-end slides to unpredictable shifts in chassis behavior, the Italian wasn’t sure whether the issues were mechanical, setup-related, or tyre-driven. At one point, Bagnaia said he wasn’t even confident the bike he was riding was behaving like the same machine he had tested earlier in Aragon.

“The movement of the bike was strange and it was more important to understand it,” Bagnaia said, explaining why he shelved plans to try Ducati’s updated fairing on Friday.

Instead of testing new components, Bagnaia and his crew focused on diagnosing the problem, working through geometry settings, tire pressures, and electronics in an attempt to regain some stability.

The Turning Point: A Simple Rear Tyre Change

The breakthrough came in the afternoon session, during which Bagnaia and his team opted for a new soft rear tyre. That decision flipped the script completely.

“We just changed the rear tyre, we put a new soft [compound], and everything changed and everything was fantastic,” Bagnaia said with a smile.

The tyre change not only addressed the grip issues he was facing but also restored his signature front-end feel, especially crucial for Mugello’s high-speed directional changes and rapid braking zones.

“My feeling of Mugello was back there. It was a good relief. I’m very happy about it. It’s, in terms of feeling, a very good Friday.”

Why the Rear Tyre Matters at Mugello

At a circuit like Mugello, tyre choice and condition play a vital role. The 5.2 km layout includes multiple high-speed corners, a long front straight, and a brutal braking zone into Turn 1 — all of which test rear grip and acceleration traction.

If the tyre isn’t delivering grip or stability under acceleration, the bike becomes difficult to trust. Bagnaia’s earlier complaints about rear-end unpredictability are consistent with what many riders experience when the rear compound isn’t working within its ideal temperature range or pressure window.

Once the soft compound tyre was fitted, the balance of the Ducati changed. Bagnaia was once again able to attack the corners, brake deep, and carry corner speed with confidence — hallmarks of his Mugello dominance in past years.

Abandoning Fairing Tests for Core Setup Priorities

Interestingly, Ducati had planned to reintroduce the updated fairing from the post-race Aragon test this weekend. However, Bagnaia opted to delay that evaluation, believing that fixing the base setup was more urgent.

“It was more important to understand what was happening,” Bagnaia said. “We needed to focus on fixing the core feeling before trying new things.”

This decision reflects a mature and strategic mindset from the reigning champion. Rather than experimenting with aero changes while still dealing with fundamental problems, Bagnaia ensured that his base package was solid before moving forward.

Ducati may still bring out the updated fairing on Saturday, depending on how the overnight data review and FP3 unfold. But for now, the focus is clearly on comfort and consistency.

Feeling Recovered in Time Attack Runs

With the soft tyre in place and the setup dialed in, Bagnaia launched into his time attack runs during the latter stages of FP2. The result? A lap time that was second only to Tech3 KTM’s Maverick Viñales, and crucially, a session that Bagnaia described as reminiscent of his Sunday form at Aragon.

“During the time attack, with the soft rear, everything was fine again, was similar to Aragon Sunday,” he noted.

The second time attack didn’t go to plan, however, as Bagnaia ran out of fuel mid-lap while pushing hard — a minor logistical misstep that likely cost him a shot at topping the timesheets altogether.

“In the second attempt, I just finished the fuel when I was pushing hard and everything was super-smooth,” he said. “So, happy to feel like this.”

Even with the fuel issue, the positive direction was clear.

Pecco’s Championship Campaign Back on Rhythm

Coming off a strong run of races, Bagnaia is back in 2023 title-contending form, and his recovery on Friday suggests he’s ready to keep the pressure on his rivals. Mugello has historically been a sanctuary for Bagnaia — not just because it’s a home race, but because the track suits his riding style perfectly.

His smooth throttle control, aggressive braking, and high-speed corner accuracy make him a natural threat at the Italian GP. And with confidence restored by the afternoon’s tyre switch, the Pecco show looks ready to resume on Saturday.

Saturday Goals: Perfect Qualifying, Fairing Test TBD

With Friday’s work behind him, Bagnaia’s objective for Saturday is clear: secure a front-row start and refine his race setup for Sunday. Whether he tests Ducati’s updated fairing in FP3 or waits until after qualifying depends on how confident the team feels with the current bike balance.

For now, Bagnaia seems content to ride the familiar version of the GP25 — especially now that it feels right again.

“I don’t want to say that I’m back with my feeling completely,” he cautioned. “But today I was able to push quite hard.”

Those words will be music to the ears of Ducati fans. Even a 90% confident Bagnaia at Mugello is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the grid.

The Field Takes Notice: Bagnaia’s Resurgence a Warning Sign

While Viñales topped the timesheets and several other riders — including Fabio Di Giannantonio and Pedro Acosta — showed promise, Bagnaia’s bounce-back performance sent a message: the champion is far from off his game.

And at a track where he’s owned the top step of the podium for the past three years, his Friday resurgence could be the start of another dominant weekend.

Ducati, fans, and rivals alike are paying attention — and preparing for the storm that is Pecco Bagnaia at Mugello.

Conclusion: One Change, Big Impact

Francesco Bagnaia’s rollercoaster Friday at the 2025 Italian MotoGP proved that even the smallest adjustments — in this case, a simple rear tyre swap — can drastically change the course of a weekend. From frustrated and confused to fast and confident, Bagnaia showed resilience, adaptability, and race-winning potential.

With Q2 secured and momentum building, the stage is now set for another Bagnaia masterclass in Tuscany. And if he continues this trajectory, fans might just witness a fourth consecutive victory at Mugello — something only the greats have achieved in the modern era.

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