Veteran MotoGP crew principal Hervé Poncharal believes there may be “no actual motive” why Pecco Bagnaia struggled as a lot as he did in 2025.
After two title-winning seasons in 2022 and 2023, and 11 Grand Prix wins in 2024, Pecco Bagnaia has skilled a chilling fall from glory this yr.
Bagnaia, a manufacturing unit Ducati rider, has scored simply two grand prix wins in a unstable season, with Bagnaia taking no factors by means of the ultimate 5 races on Sunday.
Bagnaia, who has all the time been a top-three championship contender since 2021, has fallen to fifth within the standings, greater than 200 factors behind his champion teammate Marc Marquez.
The foundation of Bagnaia’s issues was a insecurity within the GP25’s entrance finish, which was largely because of the bike’s new top adjuster.
Nevertheless, Ducati was unable to discover a everlasting repair for Bagnaia, and his shock clear sweep on the Japanese Grand Prix finally proved to be a one-off.
Bagnaia had the very best bike even in 2025
His struggles coincided with Marquez’s dominant 2025 season with 11 Grand Prix wins and 14 Dash wins.
Bagnaia repeatedly admitted that Marquez can keep away from issues, one thing the Italian can’t do.
His points triggered varied flashpoints between him and the Ducati administration, with the latter shedding persistence with the truth that the crew appeared unable to result in any concrete modifications.
Hervé Poncharal, former proprietor of the Tech3 crew, stated of this:
“Particularly whenever you see how his nightmare led to an unimaginable victory in Japan. I am not a know-it-all and I do not need to look like I’m a know-it-all, nevertheless it’s clear there’s quite a bit occurring in his head.
“Pekko actually nonetheless is aware of learn how to journey a motorcycle.
“For my part, the Ducati continues to be the very best bike on the observe, even when the margin of benefit is smaller.
“And he is aware of his crew and his crew is aware of him.
“So, in my view, there isn’t any rhyme or actual motive[to his conflict].”
Bagnaia suffers the identical factor that the Yamaha rider did in opposition to Rossi
Poncharal believes Marc Márquez’s type has “undoubtedly influenced” the struggles Bagnaia confronted, likening it to the Yamaha rider competing in opposition to Valentino Rossi within the 2000s.
“Once I was at Yamaha, there have been 4 M1s,” Poncharal says.
“Valentino was profitable each race and profitable each championship, whereas the opposite riders had been fully shedding.
“They usually had the identical bike, I swear.
“Once I confirmed Valentino’s knowledge to the opposite guys, they stated, ‘I am unable to do it.’ I believe Marc had the identical concept when he was at Honda.
“It was actually a shock to see a teammate like Marc Marquez do it on the bike.
“And now the one that is not primary, who’s not all the time the winner, however who the manufacturing unit had positioned all its hopes on, has fully modified the scenario.”
