The Worst Season of Pecco Bagnaia’s Career? The Warning Signs Are Becoming Clear!

It’s the kind of slump no one saw coming. Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP world champion, entered the 2025 season as Ducati’s golden boy, the face of a factory team that had dominated the grid for two consecutive years. But as the championship reaches its halfway point, the question on everyone’s lips is becoming harder to ignore:

Is 2025 shaping up to be the worst season of Pecco Bagnaia’s MotoGP career?

The statistics speak volumes, and they’re not kind. After nine rounds, Bagnaia finds himself trailing his own Ducati Lenovo teammate, Marc Marquez, by a staggering 110 points. Even more alarming? He’s 70 points behind satellite rider Alex Marquez, signaling a deeper, systemic struggle rather than a mere streak of bad luck.

What’s Gone Wrong for Bagnaia?

On paper, Bagnaia has everything a champion needs—raw speed, a race-winning motorcycle, and a proven track record. Yet this season, none of it has translated into results. While other riders extract maximum performance from the Desmosedici GP25, Bagnaia appears plagued by inconsistency, frequently finishing outside the podium positions.

The primary culprit seems to be a lack of front-end feeling and tire degradation, two technical issues that have become more apparent as the season unfolds. Unlike aggressive riders who thrive under less-than-ideal setups, Bagnaia is a “sensitive” rider—a label now central to the ongoing discussion.

Jorge Lorenzo Weighs In: “He Needs the Perfect Balance”

Former MotoGP legend and five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo recently addressed Bagnaia’s struggles on his podcast, Dura la Vida, offering insight that only a fellow elite rider could.

“Bagnaia is a very sensitive rider, just like I was. Riders like me, Biaggi, or Kocinski—we all needed the bike to be perfect to perform at our best. We couldn’t just push through like Marc [Marquez] or Stoner, who are what I call ‘insensitive’ riders,” Lorenzo explained.

According to Lorenzo, Bagnaia’s challenges stem from his need for optimal bike balance. “When the bike is right, Pecco is untouchable. But when something’s off—whether it’s front grip, tire degradation, or corner entry feel—he struggles to compensate.”

Lorenzo’s comments reflect a broader theme: not all riders can brute-force their way through setup issues. Some, like Bagnaia, need harmony between machine and rider to deliver their best.

The Marc Marquez Factor

A huge wrinkle in Bagnaia’s 2025 struggles is the rise of Marc Marquez—on the same machinery. After years of injury, frustration, and experimentation, Marquez finally has a factory Ducati under him, and he’s using it to reignite his legacy. While Bagnaia falters, Marquez thrives—pulling off spectacular overtakes, claiming pole positions, and demonstrating the aggression that made him a six-time premier class world champion.

This contrast hasn’t gone unnoticed. Marquez’s success on the GP25 has not only placed Ducati in the spotlight but also amplified the pressure on Bagnaia, who was expected to remain the team’s alpha rider. Instead, Marquez has quickly become the benchmark, reminding fans and critics alike what true adaptability looks like.

The Ghost of Assen—and a Last Chance?

As the championship heads to Assen, a circuit where Bagnaia triumphed in 2024, the pressure couldn’t be higher. A good performance here could revive his season, or at least stall the narrative that his time at the top is slipping.

In many ways, Assen may represent Bagnaia’s last realistic opportunity to claw back momentum before the season gets out of hand. Ducati engineers are reportedly working overtime to address his front-end concerns, and Bagnaia himself has expressed cautious optimism:

“We know the problem. The bike is fast, but I can’t feel the front like I used to. It’s a puzzle we’re still trying to solve. But I trust my team, and I’m not giving up,” Bagnaia told reporters ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Still, time is running out. With more than 100 points to catch up to Marc and new threats emerging every weekend—Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini, and Jorge Martin among them—Bagnaia’s window for resurgence is narrowing by the race.

What’s Happening Inside Ducati?

Ducati’s internal dynamics are also under scrutiny. With Marc Marquez now outperforming the reigning champion, questions are being raised about team strategy, development focus, and even the psychological balance within the garage.

Could Ducati start leaning more toward Marquez if he continues to dominate? It’s not unthinkable. Manufacturers chase wins and titles, and if Marquez becomes the better bet, Ducati may prioritize his feedback and setups.

That possibility would be a dramatic turn for Bagnaia, who was once the uncontested lead rider—the man Ducati built its factory around.

Is Pecco Bagnaia’s Style Now a Liability?

Another pressing question: Has the sport evolved beyond Bagnaia’s riding style? While the Italian is an expert in high-corner-speed control and precise throttle application, modern MotoGP increasingly rewards aggression and improvisation—traits Marquez, Acosta, and even Quartararo have in spades.

If the current tire compounds, track surfaces, and electronic packages don’t suit Bagnaia’s “classic” style, then 2025 could be the season that forces a major reinvention—or signals a slow but steady fade from the top.

The Psychology of a Champion Under Siege

Mental toughness is often the difference between champions who bounce back and those who fade into history. While Bagnaia remains outwardly composed, insiders suggest that frustration is mounting.

Several pit lane observers have noted Bagnaia spending longer in debriefs, taking more cautious approaches during practice sessions, and showing uncharacteristic tension during media interviews.

Jorge Lorenzo offered further perspective:

“It’s hard to be the one everyone expects to win, and then suddenly, you’re the one chasing. I’ve been there. It eats at you.”

Bagnaia’s ability to mentally reset and refocus may determine not just the outcome of 2025 but the future arc of his career.

What Happens If Nothing Changes?

Let’s entertain the worst-case scenario: if Bagnaia fails to podium in Assen, and the gap to the leaders grows even larger, what’s next?

Does Ducati shift its full attention to Marquez for the rest of the year? Could Bagnaia be moved to a satellite team in 2026 to make room for rising stars like Acosta or Martin?

While these outcomes are speculative, they’re no longer implausible.

In a sport as cutthroat as MotoGP, even a reigning world champion isn’t immune to performance-based consequences.

Final Verdict: A Crisis or a Turning Point?

There’s no denying it: 2025 is shaping up to be Pecco Bagnaia’s most difficult season in MotoGP. The points deficit is daunting. The technical issues are persistent. The rivals are hungrier than ever.

But within this crisis lies an opportunity.

Champions are forged not just in moments of glory but in how they respond to adversity. Assen could be Bagnaia’s do-or-die moment—a chance to silence critics, prove his doubters wrong, and remind the paddock that he is still Ducati’s future, not its past.

One thing is clear: the next few rounds will define Pecco Bagnaia’s legacy—not just as a rider, but as a champion.