Francesco Bagnaia believes that regardless of the success of different manufacturers, the Ducati Desmosedici GP continues to be one of the best bike in MotoGP.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi took his second win of the season in Portugal final weekend (November 7-9), whereas Honda has been capable of end on the rostrum twice within the final 5 races with Joan Mir, whereas Pedro Acosta can also be a relentless podium risk and is simply three factors behind Bagnaia within the rider standings.
However Bagnaia believes the energy of Marc Marquez, who has been sidelined with damage since Indonesia, is proof that the Ducati continues to be one of the best bike on the grid.
“I feel our bike is one of the best one,” Francesco Bagnaia mentioned at a pre-event press convention forward of the Valencia MotoGP when requested if the concession system made it tough for Ducati to develop the Desmosedici in 2025.
“I feel we struggled this season, that is true, however final season we have been all the time aggressive and made quite a lot of errors however nonetheless received.
“This season Marc (Marquez) made fewer errors and received the remaining 5 races. I feel our bike continues to be a lot stronger than all of the others.”
“It is true that taking assessments and making a couple of extra concessions might be a possibility to enhance quicker. In my case, extra testing days would have been higher, however the guidelines are there to make the championship extra equal.
“I feel Aprilia, Yamaha, Honda and KTM used their benefit nicely within the take a look at and wild card to enhance the state of affairs.
“However Ducati continues to be one of the best and I feel we made good use of what we had.”
“I had a tough time accepting actuality.”
Though Bagnaia nonetheless believes Ducati’s energy is superior to different groups, Bagnaia’s season has clearly been a catastrophe in comparison with earlier years.
The rider, who received 11 main races in 2024, has three wins this yr (together with a dash) and 7 DNFs between sprints and grands prix, however the Italian is not even positive he discovered something from the expertise.
“Actually, there’s positively been extra dangerous than good this yr,” he mentioned.
“After a string of poor outcomes up to now 4 seasons, ending third, I struggled to just accept the fact of this season.
“I attempted to work as finest as I may with the workforce all through the season, making an attempt to know and making an attempt to adapt to the 2025 bike, however sadly I wasn’t in a position to try this. So it was very tough.
“This bike has actually good potential, as a result of if you happen to have a look at Marc, he confirmed it. However aside from that, I used to be simply struggling.
“So, truthfully, I do not know if we’ll study something from this season. I feel it is good to be clear in our heads that we have been all the time making an attempt to adapt to it and all the time making an attempt to be aggressive.”
“So this can assist me sooner or later, however I hope that once I get on the (2026) bike on Tuesday I can really feel myself once more and battle for the highest spots subsequent yr.”
This weekend’s Valencia race would be the twenty second of the yr, with Bagnaia’s hardest season in MotoGP within the longest season within the championship’s historical past.
The Ducati Lenovo Group rider finds it even more durable given the present difficulties, however that does not essentially have to alter.
“We’re ready for something and I feel it is honest to have a calendar like this,” Bagnaia mentioned.
“We’re having fun with using and to be trustworthy it will be nice to race extra in Europe and we’re having time there.
“In my state of affairs, it is truthfully harder, however that is the way in which it’s. It is nice that it is the method it’s.”
“Final yr we would have liked yet one more race, this season possibly 5 much less, however that’s what it’s.”
