Two third locations behind Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez marked an underwhelming starting to the 2025 MotoGP season for Francesco Bagnaia, who has marked to approaching circuits as ones that would favour him.
MotoGP subsequent goes to the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina, the place Bagnaia’s championship-leading teammate Marc Marquez has received on three events – 2014, 2016, and 2019 – in dominant vogue; whereas the Spaniard was undefeated for six editions of the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin between 2013–2018, and received there for a seventh time in 2021.
Two-time MotoGP World Champion Bagnaia is already 14 factors down within the riders’ standings after the opening spherical of twenty-two this yr, and has by no means stood on the rostrum within the premier class in both Argentina or the US.
Pecco Bagnaia identifies Argentina to achieve floor
“Argentina additionally for Alex [Marquez] is excellent (Marquez completed second in 2023 after Bagnaia crashed out), and for a lot of riders is excellent,” Bagnaia instructed the post-race press convention in Thailand when requested if he wanted to handle his expectations for the subsequent races contemplating Marc Marquez’s file at circuits similar to Termas de Rio Hondo and the Circuit of the Americas.
“So, we have to work rather a lot and attempt to shut that hole.
“However you by no means know, as a result of generally you begin a race weekend and you are feeling improbable and every little thing involves you simply, so we are going to attempt to do it.
“We’re already two [years] that we aren’t going [to Argentina] and I can’t think about the state of affairs when it comes to grip that we are going to discover.”
As an alternative of taking a look at Argentina and the US as locations the place he might flip round his fortunes, Bagnaia was focusing on the Qatar and Spanish GPs.
“So, let’s see and the utmost will likely be to not lose that many factors, or acquire factors within the subsequent two Grands Prix.
“Then we go to Qatar and Jerez which are two superb tracks for Marc [Marquez], however extra on my facet.”
Ducati Lenovo Group supervisor Davide Tardozzi additionally indicated that he expects Bagnaia to take a step up within the subsequent races.
“I anticipate in Argentina that Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] will battle for the win; whereas in Austin– wait [for] Qatar the place I believe Pecco will likely be very quick.”
He added: “There will likely be instances the place Pecco will lead the race, there will likely be instances the place Pecco will win races – if you find yourself all the time on the rostrum, as Jorge [Martin] confirmed final yr, then perhaps you’re a title contender.”
