Pecco Bagnaia admits he is at a loss to explain the rear grip issues that caused another crash at the San Marino MotoGP, saying it is "difficult to know why" he continues to struggle while other Ducati riders do not.
The double world champion's difficult season hit a new low at Misano. He failed to escape Q1 and could only manage 13th in the sprint. His grand prix ended prematurely when he crashed at Turn 2 on lap six, completing a weekend he described as "humiliating" due to his ongoing grip problems.
"I was trying," Bagnaia said. "I had a better start compared to yesterday, so I tried to follow [Fabio] Di Giannantonio after Franky [Morbidelli] had the long lap penalty. I just tried to follow him, and as soon as I had a bit more spin, in corner two I lost the front again."
He pointed to Brno as a comparison. "At Brno the level of grip is high and similar to this one. But in Brno, my feeling was better. My problem with the rear grip was less. This weekend I was in a very difficult situation with the grip, because I was feeling zero. And I was speaking with other Ducati riders, saying that the grip was high but I wasn’t feeling that. So, difficult to know why, but it is what it is and we have to continue and keep working and try to solve the things."
Next up is the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, a track where Bagnaia has historically excelled. "It’s a good track for Ducati, one of the best for me. When I was feeling good on the bike, I was winning races with a lot of seconds of gap. So, it’s a very good track for me, but we will need to understand when we arrive there what we will feel."
However, Michelin's decision to bring a stiffer rear tyre carcass to Austria could exacerbate his woes. With the 2026 MotoGP championship heating up, Bagnaia must find answers quickly before the gap to his rivals grows insurmountable.
Read Also
Diogo Moreira frustrated after crashing at MotoGP Misano despite finding a key setup breakthrough in sector three. Read the full analysis here.
Marc Marquez wins San Marino GP 2026 after Marco Bezzecchi crashes out on lap one. Marquez leads the championship as Aprilia faces pressure.
Aprilia loses constructors' lead as Ducati overtakes at Misano. Rivola insists his team won't give up despite facing unfavorable tracks in the coming races.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!