The enigma surrounding Pecco Bagnaia's 2025 MotoGP campaign deepens, leaving fans and experts alike scratching their heads. The two-time champion's performance has been a rollercoaster, and the Australian Grand Prix has only added to the intrigue.
After a disappointing showing in Indonesia, Bagnaia seemed to find his groove in Australia, qualifying directly for Q2. But here's where it gets controversial: he attributes this improvement to just one of his two Ducati Desmosedicis, despite them being identical in theory.
The Australian circuit, with its fast and flowing nature, seemed to play to Bagnaia's strengths, unlike the brake-demanding Motegi, where he dominated. Yet, Bagnaia himself admits he doesn't feel as confident as he did in Japan, highlighting ongoing issues with braking and entry into corners.
And this is the part most people miss: despite these challenges, Bagnaia managed to finish Friday's practice in a respectable ninth place. But the real mystery remains: why is only one of his bikes performing optimally?
In both Friday sessions at Phillip Island, Bagnaia started with one bike, only to park it after a single lap due to excessive shaking, as shown by the onboard camera. He then switched to the other bike, which seemed to perform better.
Bagnaia explained, "Luckily, one bike is working. The other has the same issues as Indonesia. It's tough to push and make consistent laps. This time, I have a bike functioning normally."
He continued, "I don't feel as confident as in Japan. I'm still struggling with braking and corner entry. The team is working hard to understand the issue since the bikes are identical to those in Indonesia."
While the other bike has shown potential, Bagnaia knows he's not at his best. "I can't race like I did in Japan with this setup. If I start well and make early overtakes, I can be up front, but otherwise, I get stuck. We're trying to figure this out."
Bagnaia believes today's practice was crucial, offering insights not seen in previous races. "It's hard to fully comprehend, but I had similar problems in other situations. We were lucky to finish in the top 10. We'll keep working for tomorrow."
So, what do you think? Is Bagnaia's performance a result of mechanical issues or something more complex? Share your thoughts in the comments!
