Pecco Bagnaia Chooses a New Path in Assen: “I Want to Do Everything Differently”

The 2025 MotoGP season hasn’t gone according to plan for Pecco Bagnaia—but at Assen, the three-time world champion is making a dramatic pivot. Following a disappointing result at Mugello, where the Ducati star was clearly outpaced by both Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez, Bagnaia has come to a crossroads. Something has to change.

In a revealing and emotionally charged interview with DAZN, Bagnaia opened up about his struggles, frustrations, and most importantly—his desire to reinvent his approach. This is no minor adjustment. Pecco is opting for a total mental and technical reset as he searches for answers with his Ducati Desmosedici.

Mugello: A Wake-Up Call for the Champion

At his home race in Mugello, Bagnaia expected more. But instead of standing on the podium, he found himself battling to stay relevant. The sight of the Marquez brothers outpacing him was painful.

“At Mugello, nothing worked. I felt like I was riding with a handbrake,” Pecco admitted. “It was the first time I truly felt powerless.”

For a rider known as the “king of braking”, losing front-end confidence is catastrophic. Bagnaia’s riding style is built on late, precise braking and committing into corners—traits that simply weren’t available to him. The front end of his Ducati lacked feeling, and that issue has persisted into 2025.

This “lack of feeling” at the front is more than just a technical detail—it’s a psychological wall. Without trust in the front tire, Bagnaia cannot ride with instinct, and his results have suffered.

A Turning Point at Assen: Resetting the Narrative

But Pecco isn’t throwing in the towel. At Assen, the Ducati leader is taking control—and changing course entirely. In his own words:

“I gathered my team, the engineers, and I apologized. I want to do things differently, to go along with them.”

This gesture of humility is rare in a sport often dominated by egos. Bagnaia is acknowledging not just a technical failure, but a communication breakdown—and he’s taking responsibility.

Gone is the combative post-session analysis. Instead, Pecco is embracing a constructive, collaborative mindset. He’s also putting more focus on lap volume, committing to longer practice sessions and deeper testing.

“I want to focus on the positives, not the negatives. Do more laps in practice, be better prepared for the races and see if that changes the situation.”

No More Complaints: Pecco Embraces Simplification

Bagnaia’s message to his engineers is clear: no more overwhelming them with endless lists of issues.

“If you go into the pits and list all the bike’s faults, the engineers are lost. I will do more laps, target a specific problem and solve it without complicating things.”

This stripped-back approach is refreshing. It reflects a new-found maturity in Bagnaia—a willingness to lead, not just ride. It’s not just about feeling fast—it’s about becoming part of the solution.

The shift in attitude has already energized the Ducati Lenovo Team. With the whole squad now “on the same wavelength,” as Pecco puts it, the plan is to innovate and experiment boldly at Assen.

Engineering a Comeback: The Quest for Stability

Pecco Bagnaia’s core complaint this season has been inconsistency in the bike’s behavior, particularly in fast changes of direction and under heavy braking. To fight at the front, he knows exactly what he needs:

“I want an ultra-stable Ducati Desmosedici. For now, it isn’t—but we’ll work on it.”

That means slowing down certain reactions in the chassis and softening the feedback loop between rider and machine. In MotoGP, a “hyper-responsive” bike is not always better. Bagnaia wants consistency over sensitivity.

“We’ll slow down some movements to gain consistency.”

That single sentence reveals how deep this reset is. Pecco is even willing to change his riding style—smoothing inputs, adapting braking points, and shifting weight differently—all to make peace with the new Desmosedici DNA.

Free Practice at Assen: A New Rider Emerges

From the moment the wheels turned in FP1 at Assen, Bagnaia looked more settled. He didn’t immediately top the timing charts, but that wasn’t the goal. Instead, he ran longer stints, experimented with different rear compounds, and focused on building consistency.

Gone was the rider flailing for answers after two laps. In his place was a man with a plan—a man ready to reconstruct his confidence from the ground up.

Ducati’s Full Support: Innovation Mode Activated

The reaction from within Ducati Corse has been overwhelmingly positive. According to insiders, team engineers are not only relieved by Bagnaia’s new mindset—they are excited to back him 100%.

Technical director Davide Tardozzi reportedly greenlit several experimental chassis tweaks and new mapping strategies for the Assen weekend, signaling Ducati’s trust in Pecco’s self-diagnosis.

“We’re not just looking to fix the bike for Assen,” one Ducati engineer explained. “We’re laying a new foundation for the rest of the season.”

The Bigger Picture: Bagnaia’s Legacy on the Line

For a three-time world champion, expectations are always sky-high. But this year, Bagnaia is being tested not just as a rider—but as a leader and innovator.

2025 has brought the toughest opposition yet: Marc Marquez is back, Jorge Martin is relentless, and Pedro Acosta is the future knocking on the door. There’s no room for stagnation.

Bagnaia’s decision to transform his approach at Assen might be the most important move of his career. It could define whether he becomes a “three-time champion” in the past tense—or fights his way to legend status.

Assen: More Than Just a Race—A Turning Point

Known as “The Cathedral of Speed,” Assen has long been the backdrop to iconic moments in MotoGP history. For Pecco Bagnaia, this weekend could be one of them.

He doesn’t need a win to prove something—he needs a breakthrough in feeling, and signs point to that happening.

“Assen is where we want to rediscover the magic,” Bagnaia said. “It’s where I want to lay the foundations for my rise in the rankings.”

This isn’t just about salvaging a season. It’s about restoring joy in riding—and that’s what motivates Pecco more than titles or contracts.

What Comes Next: Will the New Pecco Deliver?

Saturday and Sunday will test this new Bagnaia philosophy. The plan is in place, the team is united, and the tools are ready. Now, execution becomes everything.

If he can qualify well, avoid errors, and sustain pace late into the race, Bagnaia may not just bounce back—he may set a new benchmark for how champions respond to adversity.

The entire MotoGP paddock will be watching: Is this the start of Pecco’s redemption arc, or just another chapter in a difficult year?

Final Thoughts: From Breakdown to Breakthrough

Pecco Bagnaia’s decision to change everything at Assen is not just brave—it’s essential. His honesty, humility, and willingness to reinvent himself prove why he’s more than just a fast rider. He’s a true competitor, unafraid to evolve when the moment demands it.

In a sport where confidence can vanish overnight, Bagnaia is doing the hardest thing a world champion can do: admit he doesn’t have all the answers, and go searching for new ones.

Whether he wins at Assen or not, one thing is certain: Pecco Bagnaia has chosen growth over ego—and that may be his most powerful move yet.