Bagnaia and the most controversial statement after the British Grand Prix crash: ‘I don’t feel anything at all’

Francesco Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP World Champion, endured a particularly tough weekend at the British Grand Prix held at Silverstone. After showing promise early on by qualifying ahead of his Ducati teammate for the first time in the 2025 season, the weekend quickly turned sour for the Italian rider.

Despite the strong start, the races failed to deliver the expected results. Bagnaia finished sixth in the Sprint race, a respectable but not ideal position, before suffering a crash during the main Grand Prix race on Sunday. At the time of the crash, he was struggling outside the top ten, frustrated by his bike’s lack of performance.

Bagnaia’s Silverstone Sprint and Race: A Weekend of Struggles

In the Sprint race, Bagnaia showed some competitiveness by securing sixth place, but it was clear that he was not firing on all cylinders. The Silverstone Circuit, known for its demanding layout and fast corners, requires a finely balanced bike, and Bagnaia’s Ducati GP25 was clearly not delivering.

The main event on Sunday further highlighted these challenges. Bagnaia crashed out after struggling to maintain traction and competitiveness. His post-race comments provided insight into the difficulties faced during the race weekend.

“In the first start everything was fantastic, my feeling was good,” Bagnaia said. “My feeling was good enough to follow Fabio [Quartararo] and open up a gap to the guys behind. Then, when we restarted, I changed the rear tyre, and nothing was working.”

The change of rear tire after the race restart appeared to be a turning point for Bagnaia, as his traction deteriorated sharply, causing him to lose multiple positions on the track.

Technical Issues and the Ducati GP25’s Lack of Competitiveness

Bagnaia detailed the specific moments where the bike failed him during the race, pointing to critical corners where he lost grip and ultimately crashed:

“I lost a lot of places at Turn Nine when I lost the rear, and I had to go wide. Then at Turn Seven, I crashed in a way that was not normal.”

This clearly signals serious issues with the GP25’s rear grip and overall balance. Bagnaia went on to express his concerns about the bike’s competitiveness over the weekend.

“It is clear today that something more happened. If we look at the situation in general, it is clear that something is not working. This weekend our bike was not competitive, the only one who was competitive was Marc, because he is able to hide the problems of our bike.”

This acknowledgment from Bagnaia reflects a growing sentiment within the Ducati garage that while their machine looks promising on paper, it struggles to translate that into consistent race performance.

Bagnaia’s Frustration with the Bike’s Feedback

One of the most striking parts of Bagnaia’s post-race interview was his admission that he was struggling to get any “feel” from his bike:

“The feeling was not better, and it was not worse, I do not feel anything.”

This absence of clear feedback from the GP25 severely impacts a rider’s ability to push the limits and adjust during the race, leading to a lack of confidence and slower lap times.

Upcoming Races Offer No Immediate Hope for Bagnaia

Looking ahead, Bagnaia was asked about the prospects of better results at upcoming circuits such as Aragon, Mugello, and Assen—tracks that have historically favored his riding style.

His response was cautious and pragmatic:

“I need a complete solution. I know that I am super fast, and that I could win every race. But if my feeling remains the same, then I cannot do a miracle, I just need some help, and I know my team is working super hard to get what I want.”

Bagnaia’s words indicate that he believes the underlying issues are technical and require urgent attention from the Ducati engineers if he is to return to his winning form.

The Broader Context: Ducati’s Struggles with the GP25

Bagnaia’s Silverstone woes are part of a larger narrative surrounding Ducati’s new GP25. Although the bike’s design was expected to be an evolution rather than a revolution from the previous year, riders like Bagnaia have found the handling and balance to be fundamentally different.

Technical Director Gigi Dall’Igna and the Ducati engineering team are reportedly working tirelessly to identify and fix these problems, but the challenge remains significant.

How Bagnaia’s Struggles Affect Ducati’s Championship Hopes

For Ducati, Bagnaia is a key component of their championship ambitions. His inability to consistently compete at the front not only hampers his own title bid but also puts pressure on teammate Francesco Bagnaia and the team as a whole.

If Ducati fails to resolve the GP25’s issues soon, rival manufacturers like Yamaha and KTM could capitalize on their struggles, reshaping the competitive order of the MotoGP grid.

Conclusion: A Critical Juncture for Bagnaia and Ducati

Francesco Bagnaia’s crash at Silverstone and the broader performance issues with the Ducati GP25 signal a pivotal moment in the 2026 MotoGP season. With upcoming races at circuits traditionally favorable to Bagnaia, the pressure is on both rider and team to find solutions quickly.

Bagnaia remains confident in his own speed and capabilities, but the lack of bike feel and competitiveness threatens to stall his campaign. Ducati’s ability to address these technical challenges will likely determine their success in the championship battle moving forward.