Francesco Bagnaia's MotoGP campaign is in disarray, with the Ducati rider perplexed by his bike's mysterious issues at the Australian Grand Prix. The Italian star, known for his prowess, found himself in a baffling situation, finishing over 30 seconds behind the leader with no apparent reason for his lack of speed.
Bagnaia's race started with promise, but quickly unraveled as he dropped from 11th to 19th by lap four. He regained a position late in the race due to a retirement, but it was a small consolation. Throughout, his lap times were consistently slower, and his fastest lap was a distant two seconds behind the winner, Marco Bezzecchi.
The Phillip Island circuit has been a challenge for the entire Ducati team, but Bagnaia's struggles stood out. He finished second-to-last, ahead of only the test rider, Michele Pirro. This poor performance has raised questions about his future with Ducati, especially with his contract expiring in 2026.
Bagnaia is at a loss for words, admitting the bike's severe shaking remains unexplained. He said, "The bike is shaking a lot, but we don't know why." This issue has plagued the team all season, and they are yet to find a solution.
Adding to the intrigue, Bagnaia experienced a bizarre phenomenon on Friday. Two seemingly identical bikes performed differently, with one suiting him and the other leaving him struggling. But the mystery deepened as his preferred bike's performance worsened during qualifying and the sprint, leaving him as a mere passenger.
Bagnaia's frustration was evident: "I was feeling better, but in qualifying and the sprint, I couldn't ride the bike." This inconsistency has left the team scratching their heads, searching for answers. And this is the part most people miss—the Ducati team's ongoing battle to understand and fix these issues.
With a grid penalty for Sunday's race, Bagnaia's weekend went from bad to worse. The Australian GP left more questions than answers, and the team's efforts to unravel this puzzle will be closely watched. But here's where it gets controversial—is it time for Bagnaia to consider a fresh start elsewhere? Share your thoughts below!
