Francesco Bagnaia Confidently Conquers Silverstone: Reveals Big Goals

Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia heads into the British MotoGP with a clear mission: regaining his lost front-end confidence after a disastrous Le Mans weekend. The reigning world champion saw his worst outing since the introduction of the Sprint format and is determined to bounce back at Silverstone, one of his strongest circuits on the calendar.

A Le Mans Nightmare for Bagnaia

The French Grand Prix weekend at Le Mans dealt a heavy blow to Bagnaia’s title defense. After scoring eight podiums in the first ten races, including a crucial victory at COTA thanks to Marc Marquez’s late crash, Bagnaia appeared to be on a steady upward trajectory. However, that momentum came to a screeching halt.

In the Sprint race, Bagnaia suffered an early fall, failing to score any points. The situation worsened on Sunday when, despite making the correct decision to switch to wet tyres after the red flag restart, he was wiped out by Enea Bastianini in the first chicane. Though he managed to rejoin the race, he finished in 16th place, outside the points once again.

It was the first time in the Sprint era that Bagnaia failed to score a single point over an entire weekend—a rare occurrence for the usually consistent Ducati star.

Silverstone: A Chance for Redemption

As the MotoGP paddock heads to Silverstone, Bagnaia is looking to turn the page.

“The Le Mans weekend didn’t give us much satisfaction,” said Bagnaia. “I was fast and competitive from Friday, but the double crash in the races prevented me from scoring points. The goal is to have more confidence on the front to be able to ride as I want.”

That lack of front-end feel has been a nagging issue for Bagnaia throughout 2025. While the Ducati GP25 has proven capable of podiums and wins, Bagnaia has struggled to extract performance in lower grip conditions, especially under braking and corner entry—areas where front-end trust is paramount.

Fortunately, Silverstone may provide the ideal platform to regain that feeling. A fast and flowing track with a mix of high-speed corners and technical sections, it rewards fluid riding and precision—qualities that Bagnaia has mastered in the past. He won the British GP in 2022 and has finished on the podium in both 2023 and 2024, making it one of his most successful venues.

“I’ve always been very strong at Silverstone in recent years. I like the track and the atmosphere, and I can’t wait to get back at work in the garage,” Bagnaia added.

Title Race Tightens – But Bagnaia Can’t Regain the Lead Yet

Despite a strong start to the season, Bagnaia now finds himself 51 points behind series leader Marc Marquez. Marquez, rejuvenated with the factory Ducati team, capitalized on Bagnaia’s misfortune at Le Mans with two strong finishes that boosted him to the top of the championship standings.

His brother, Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini Ducati, sits 29 points behind Marc and is currently Bagnaia’s immediate target in the standings. However, even with a perfect weekend at Silverstone, Bagnaia cannot reclaim the championship lead. The damage from Le Mans is done, and the climb back into contention starts now.

Marc Marquez: A Serious Threat on the Factory Ducati

While Bagnaia aims to rebuild his confidence, Marc Marquez is quickly establishing himself as a title frontrunner. The six-time MotoGP champion is finally showing consistency aboard the factory Desmosedici, and his recent results are a warning to the rest of the grid.

“I’m back on track looking for confirmation,” Marc Marquez said. “In France, I achieved two very important placings for the championship standings, and I continued to test the bike.”

Marc’s adaptability and ability to quickly learn the Ducati’s nuances have surprised many. His only Silverstone victory dates back to 2014, but with improved performance and a more stable package, he will undoubtedly be a threat this weekend.

Marquez also highlighted the importance of the recent Jerez test, where he trialed new components, including a modified chassis.

“We’re going back to the pits to find the same sensations on the material that we tried at the Jerez test, and we’ll continue to work hard to be competitive in both races.”

The Front-End Struggle: Bagnaia’s Achilles Heel in 2025

Bagnaia’s main struggle in 2025 has been a lack of confidence in the front end of the GP25, particularly in braking zones and mid-corner transitions. This issue has prevented him from riding aggressively—a hallmark of his 2022 and 2023 title-winning form.

While the Ducati GP25 is widely regarded as the best bike on the grid, it’s also a highly sensitive machine. When the front-end grip isn’t perfect, Bagnaia loses the ability to commit to his usual high-corner speed style. In dry and consistent conditions, he’s virtually unbeatable. But in mixed grip or unpredictable conditions, his confidence disappears, and so does his pace.

His comments ahead of Silverstone suggest that the Ducati team is working tirelessly to address this issue:

“We need to find that front-end feeling again. It’s the key to unlocking the full potential of the bike.”

Can Silverstone Mark the Start of Bagnaia’s Comeback?

A good result at Silverstone is about more than points for Bagnaia—it’s about resetting mentally. A podium or a win would provide a massive psychological boost and possibly reignite his campaign just as the championship battle hits its mid-season climax.

Given his past results at the British circuit and his track affinity, Bagnaia is in a strong position to mount a comeback. However, he must avoid the kind of mistakes that cost him dearly at Le Mans.

Championship Outlook: A Three-Way Ducati War?

As it stands, the MotoGP championship fight is shaping up to be a thrilling Ducati civil war:

• Marc Marquez – 1st place, with momentum and consistency.

• Alex Marquez – 2nd, showing surprising pace on the year-old GP24.

• Francesco Bagnaia – 3rd, desperate to re-establish himself as the alpha in red.

While Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales and KTM’s Brad Binder have had flashes of brilliance, the title race is currently being dictated by the Ducati trio. And with Silverstone, Austria, and Catalunya coming up—tracks that all suit Ducati’s strengths—the battle is only going to get more intense.

What to Watch at the British GP

Here are a few key storylines to follow as MotoGP hits Silverstone:

• Can Bagnaia regain front-end confidence and deliver a statement win?

• Will Marc Marquez extend his title lead and prove he’s Ducati’s new king?

• Can Alex Marquez keep up with his brother and Bagnaia in the title hunt?

• Will Silverstone’s unpredictable weather add more chaos to the title battle?

Final Thoughts: Redemption or More Frustration for Bagnaia?

Francesco Bagnaia enters Silverstone at a crossroads in his 2025 campaign. With his front-end confidence shaken, a title gap to close, and pressure mounting from inside his own team, the British GP could prove pivotal.

His stated goal—“more confidence on the front to be able to ride as I want”—is a simple one, but achieving it could be the turning point in the season. If he gets it right at Silverstone, Bagnaia’s comeback begins. If not, he risks falling even further behind in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive MotoGP seasons in years.

One thing is clear: Francesco Bagnaia isn’t done yet. But he needs Silverstone to remind the paddock—and himself—of that.