Francesco Bagnaia has revealed the “scientific” cause for his long-held struggles in dash races in comparison with his huge success in full-distance MotoGP grands prix.
The 2-time world champion commented after ending third within the 2025 season-opening Thailand dash contest, the place he needed to fend off Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura for 13 laps.
Bagnaia defined that the smaller gasoline tank mandated for dash occasions modifications the “dynamics” of his Ducati, inflicting him to battle extra in braking and nook entry.
So the Italian has all the time discovered dash races robust as, though final 12 months he and eventual champion Jorge Martin each gained seven occasions on a Saturday, errors by Bagnaia within the half-distance occasions price him the 2024 title.
“There’s a scientific cause why I am struggling within the dash,” Bagnaia mentioned. “We have been attempting to know it and actually the one factor that they modified from the lengthy races is the gasoline tank – it’s smaller by regulation.
“It modifications the dynamics of the bike a bit and I am struggling extra in braking and entrance. However we’re engaged on it, we try to unravel it.
“Right this moment we’re simply doing it in the usual manner however subsequent time we are going to strive one thing totally different.”
Marc Marquez, Ducati Staff, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Bagnaia revealed that he acquired optimistic outcomes when he accomplished a dash simulation with a bigger gasoline tank.
“I did it and I used to be sooner and it is one thing you can not do for the regulation,” he added. “We try one thing totally different, like set-up and various things on the bike.
“It is a lengthy journey to enhance this as a result of already two seasons [and] the issue is kind of the identical.”
He additionally added that the issue with the sprint-spec gasoline tank is exacerbated when he’s working immediately behind different riders, versus in clear air.
“Once I’m beginning within the entrance this downside is much less as a result of with out the slipstream, with out anybody within the entrance, I can drive within the braking, but when somebody is in entrance of me, I can be [stuck] for 10 laps or 15 laps with one second of hole and I can’t shut again,” Bagnaia defined.
“It is fairly an issue, we try to unravel it.”
Images from Thailand GP – Saturday
On this article
Rachit Thukral
MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia
Ducati Staff
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