Bagnaia Wins Big at the Americas GP 2025: What Are the Six Secrets Behind the Surprise Victory Over the Marquez Brothers?

From following a strict racing program to benefiting from a bit of luck at the start of the Americas GP, Francesco Bagnaia ended the Marquez brothers’ dominance in the 2025 MotoGP season. Here’s a look at the key factors behind the Italian rider’s success in the United States.

Francesco Bagnaia claimed a surprising first win of 2025 at the dramatic MotoGP Americas Grand Prix. His victory came after Marc Marquez lost his lead, allowing Bagnaia to capitalize and seize the top podium spot.

On a circuit where Marquez usually excels and Bagnaia had yet to win, this success was like a breakthrough moment for a rider who seemed stuck in neutral until at least the next race in Qatar. Marc Marquez entered the weekend with a 31-point lead in the championship, but now he heads into the fourth round trailing new leader Alex Marquez by just 12 points. However, with Alex Marquez securing second-place finishes throughout 2025 before Sunday, there was no guarantee that Bagnaia would be the first to benefit from his brother’s late-season mistake.

Maintaining a Positive and Patient Attitude

After the sprint race in Argentina, Bagnaia was pressured by the media to admit whether he felt the heat of losing to his teammate. When asked if he was worried, he replied, “No. Maybe if this were the seventh or eighth race, I would be.”

It’s unclear whether he included sprint races in that assessment, but even considering them, Bagnaia reached the top podium step in just his sixth race of the year. By his own standards, he was right not to panic. He kept the bigger picture in mind.

“We are closing the gap, and step by step, we will be there,” he said during the same press conference. “With patience, I will be back at the top. But I know I have time to get back. I am strong mentally because I know my potential. I know I can fight with the Marquez brothers as soon as I feel good with the bike.”

Ducati’s Support During Tough Times

After struggling in the first two rounds of the season, Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna made a lengthy social media post expressing his support for Bagnaia.

“I will not be satisfied with our results, no matter how great they are, until we provide Pecco with the ability to showcase his full potential on the track, allowing him to fight on equal footing and take the position he deserves in the battle of champions,” Dall’Igna wrote after the Argentina round. “We are working tirelessly on this… Pecco cannot and should not have to struggle so much just to finish third.”

This vote of confidence was crucial in helping Bagnaia regain his momentum in the U.S.

Regaining Confidence Step by Step

When asked about his struggles in 2025, Bagnaia repeatedly emphasized that things weren’t as bad as they seemed. He insisted that what he was missing was “feeling.” The sensation and control he had over his Ducati at the end of 2024 were not there anymore. Regaining that feeling was a challenge.

The first half of the U.S. weekend didn’t seem promising in that regard. FP1 on Friday was wet, meaning Bagnaia couldn’t make meaningful progress. He nearly missed a direct spot into Q2 because the track dried only toward the end of the session.

But at some point on Saturday, he made one of his famous breakthroughs. He only qualified sixth, giving critics more ammunition, but he calmly explained that this was due to rider mistakes, not bike issues. He showed evidence of his improvement with an explosive first lap in the sprint race.

Although he eventually settled for third place behind the Marquez brothers, Bagnaia later stated that he truly felt his confidence returning.

Beating Alex Marquez Head-to-Head

Bagnaia’s first victory of 2025 wasn’t just about waiting for Marc Marquez to make a mistake. Until the grand prix on Sunday, his best finishes had been third place at most.

While most people saw second place as the minimum acceptable result for Ducati’s factory rider, those spots had been dominated by Alex Marquez. The Gresini rider had consistently secured runner-up finishes since the opening round in Thailand through the Texas sprint on Saturday.

But this weekend was different. With new confidence and a rediscovered “feeling,” Bagnaia refused to settle for another loss to Alex on Sunday. Although the blue Ducati took the lead early and looked difficult to pass, Bagnaia executed a decisive overtake on lap four. It was an extension of his aggressive sprint race approach—another sign that the Bagnaia of the first two rounds had vanished.

Once ahead of Alex Marquez, Bagnaia had the pace to maintain his position without fearing a counterattack. This move proved crucial, as Marc Marquez eventually crashed, and Bagnaia was perfectly positioned to claim the win.

Lucky Break from Race Officials

The Americas GP could have gone very differently for Bagnaia—as well as for Marquez and several other top contenders—if race officials hadn’t stopped the race due to chaos at the start.

Bagnaia, the Marquez brothers, and seven other riders who left the grid just before the scheduled warm-up lap were fortunate that a red flag was shown. Otherwise, they might have faced penalties for violating start regulations.

Had the original race continued, the three riders who fitted dry tires on the grid might have taken an early lead, while Bagnaia would have started from the pit lane, making victory a long shot. Restarting under normal conditions greatly benefited Bagnaia.

Acknowledging his luck, Bagnaia admitted in his post-race press conference that the start procedure wasn’t fair. “I can imagine the frustration of those who were ready with slick tires,” he said. “They have every right to be upset about what happened.”

Still, Bagnaia will gladly accept a day when everything aligned perfectly for him—and he heads to Qatar with renewed confidence, feeling like a new man.