Francesco Bagnaia's Urgent Plea: "I Cannot Do Miracles, I Need Help" with Ducati GP25

Francesco Bagnaia

Francesco Bagnaia's Plea to Ducati: "I Cannot Do Miracles, I Need Help" with the Troubled GP25.

Silverstone, UK – Following a challenging British Grand Prix, reigning MotoGP World Champion Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia delivered a candid and urgent plea to his Ducati factory team. Expressing deep frustration with the 2025-specification GP25 machine, Bagnaia emphatically stated, "I cannot do miracles, I need help." This powerful declaration underscores a growing concern within the Ducati garage, particularly as the once-dominant Desmosedici, the most coveted factory bike in MotoGP for the past three years, has been plagued by a series of issues this season. The Silverstone weekend, where Ducati failed to win for the second consecutive Grand Prix, amplified these concerns, raising questions about the manufacturer's seemingly unshakeable supremacy.

The struggles with the new-spec Ducati are not entirely new. Since preseason testing, both Bagnaia and his new factory teammate, Marc Marquez, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the updated engine and chassis. This collective feedback prompted an unusual decision from Ducati: to commit to a hybrid version of the older, more trusted specification for certain aspects of the bike, effectively acknowledging that the 2025 iteration was not performing as anticipated. While Marc Marquez has seemingly adapted more convincingly to his GP25, even leading the MotoGP standings, Bagnaia's difficulties have become increasingly evident and, at Silverstone, culminated in a profound sense of helplessness.

Bagnaia recounted a particularly unsettling incident from the British Grand Prix: "At Turn 7, I had an abnormal crash." This uncharacteristic mistake, coming from a rider known for his meticulous precision, further highlighted the underlying instability. Reflecting on the overall situation, he continued, "It is clear that [on Sunday] something else was going on. How is the general situation? Something is wrong. This is the first time our bike has not been competitive." This is a significant statement, as it marks a stark departure from Ducati's recent history of delivering a universally competitive package. For a factory rider of Bagnaia's caliber to openly admit the bike's lack of competitiveness is a serious red flag.

The race itself was a microcosm of Bagnaia's struggles. He was running in a strong second position when the British MotoGP was red-flagged. However, upon the restart, a strategic tire change – opting for a different rear tire compound – backfired dramatically, leading to his unfortunate withdrawal from the race. This DNF (Did Not Finish) was the worst possible outcome, especially coming on the heels of the Le Mans Grand Prix, where he also returned with zero points. The back-to-back non-scores have significantly impacted his championship aspirations, particularly with Marc Marquez now holding a substantial lead.

Despite the outcome, Bagnaia insisted that his fundamental feeling with the Ducati GP25 at Silverstone was not necessarily worse, just consistently problematic. "Not worse, not better. As always, I don't feel anything," he explained. This candid remark suggests a worrying lack of connection or feedback from the bike, preventing him from pushing to the absolute limit with confidence. "I need a complete solution," he pleaded.

Bagnaia's frustration is palpable because he knows his own capabilities. "I know that I am very fast. I know I can win every race," he asserted. This confidence in his innate speed, juxtaposed with the bike's current limitations, paints a clear picture of his predicament. "But if my feeling remains the same, I cannot do miracles," he emphasized. This powerful statement underlines the dependency of even the most talented riders on a machine that provides the necessary confidence and predictability to extract maximum performance. He acknowledges the tireless efforts of his team: "I need help. I know my team works hard, the engineers work hard, to give me what I want. But now? That feeling is still far away." This points to a deeper engineering challenge that the factory needs to address.

Baca Juga

The gravity of the situation has prompted intervention from the highest levels of Ducati Corse. General Manager Gigi Dall'Igna has issued a public call for the manufacturer to rally behind their embattled champion. Bagnaia currently lags 72 points behind championship leader and teammate Marc Marquez, a deficit that highlights the severity of his performance struggles. While Marquez, for the first time at Silverstone, also acknowledged experiencing significant issues with his GP25, Bagnaia suggested that Marquez has, thus far, been able to "hide" the major problems in his performances more effectively, implying a unique adaptability or riding style that allows Marquez to mask the bike's shortcomings to some extent.

This situation poses a significant challenge for Ducati, a factory that has enjoyed unprecedented success in recent years. Their ability to produce a competitive bike for a wide range of riders has been a cornerstone of their dominance. However, the struggles faced by both their factory riders with the 2025 machine, particularly Bagnaia's vocal demand for "help," indicate that the development path for the GP25 might have taken a misstep. The core issue appears to be a fundamental lack of feeling, especially from the front end, which severely limits the riders' ability to push confidently and consistently.

The pressure is now firmly on Ducati's engineering team to deliver the "complete solution" that Bagnaia desperately needs. The championship is a long and arduous battle, but a significant points deficit at this stage can be difficult to overcome, especially when the rider is struggling to extract the full potential from his machine. The upcoming races will be crucial for Ducati to demonstrate their ability to respond to these technical challenges and provide their double world champion with a bike that allows him to "do miracles" once again. The stakes are incredibly high, not just for Bagnaia's championship hopes, but for Ducati's reputation as the sport's dominant force. The MotoGP world watches with bated breath to see if the Italian manufacturer can turn the tide and provide the support their frustrated champion so urgently requires.