Former MotoGP world champion Kevin Schwantz believes Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia must “attempt every little thing himself” to be aggressive in 2026 and never depend on Marc Marquez’s information.
Double MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia was anticipated to be Marc Marquez’s closest rival for the championship in 2025.
Nevertheless, the Italian struggled to regain his confidence from the beginning in GP25, with Bagnaia solely profitable two grands prix and ending fifth within the standings with a distinction of 257 factors.
Troublingly, Bagnaia’s woes appeared unsolvable for Ducati, with the Italian’s kind being extremely unpredictable from weekend to weekend.
Many have prompt that Bagnaia could have suffered mentally from being Marquez’s teammate in 2025, however each the Italian and Ducati have repeatedly refuted this.
However whereas Schwantz believes his struggles amid Marquez’s dominance definitely performed a job, he admits Bagnaia has a “lengthy street” to get again to the place he belongs.
“I feel it is a mixture of every little thing,” he stated Gazzetta dello Sport At EICMA.
“The competitors is so shut that it’s usually a matter of seconds whether or not you’re on the entrance or the again of the group.
“So you possibly can’t afford to be too far behind. For those who hold these issues behind your thoughts, like seeing your teammates within the prime three or prime 5 on a regular basis, it is easy to get distracted and never concentrate on what you want and need from the bike.”
“We all know how robust Pecco is and we noticed it in Japan too: quickest in qualifying, profitable the dash race after which profitable the lengthy race.
“We all know he has these qualities. Possibly at the moment Marquez was simply racing for the championship and he could not give 100% to get simply the factors he wanted to win the title. However Pecco has to return to focusing solely on what he needs and desires.”
“It may be a tricky job. He will not be capable of ask (the crew), ‘What are you utilizing?'” or, “Why is he quicker than me?” as a result of what works for Mark will not essentially work for him.
“So he must attempt every little thing himself. It looks like an extended street to get outcomes, however I feel at that degree it’s the solely method.”
Bagnaia completed his Valencia check final month glad with how he felt on the bike.
Ducati not too long ago introduced that its official 2026 crew presentation will happen on January nineteenth in Italy.
