Francesco Bagnaia Shines at the Start of the MotoGP Asian Tour

Francesco Bagnaia commenced the Asian segment of the MotoGP season on a high note, successfully leaving behind the disappointing results from the San Marino Grand Prix that occurred just two weeks prior. The Ducati factory rider showcased his skills by clocking the fastest time during the initial free practice session at Motegi on Friday, edging out the competition, including 2024 champion Jorge Martin and his current teammate, Marc Marquez, by a narrow margin of approximately a tenth of a second.

Although Bagnaia eventually fell to seventh place by the end of the hour-long practice session, his performance was impressive. He finished just 0.346 seconds behind the session leader, highlighting the competitiveness of this year’s MotoGP. The gap to Marquez, who secured third place, was only two tenths of a second, while Marco Bezzecchi took the top spot for Aprilia and Pedro Acosta from KTM clinched second place.

This marked a significant turnaround for Bagnaia, especially considering that just before the San Marino Grand Prix, he had been nearly six tenths behind at the beginning of the weekend and had struggled to break into the top 20 during Friday practice in Barcelona. This new performance level indicates a notable improvement for the two-time champion.

“It was a solid Friday,” Bagnaia reflected. “I can’t overlook the performance I had this morning; I was genuinely pleased with everything. I faced some challenges with the hard front tire as it was losing grip quite a bit, which gave me some concern. However, I felt more comfortable in the afternoon with the medium tire.”

During the practice session, Bagnaia encountered some issues that cost him valuable time, losing about 15 minutes at the beginning. Nonetheless, he felt confident and smooth throughout the remainder of the session. “I was experimenting with different approaches,” he added. “I really focused on hard braking, always pushing the limits a bit more, even if I might have gone overboard at times. I did make a small error during the second lap of the time attack at corner seven, which made me lose a bit of time, but it wasn’t anything serious. Overall, I feel quite optimistic and satisfied.”

Ducati’s Confidence in Bagnaia’s Return to Form

In recent months, Bagnaia’s dip in performance had led Ducati’s general manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, to openly express concerns about the champion rider’s consistency. However, the way Bagnaia hit the ground running at the Japanese Grand Prix has reinvigorated confidence among Ducati’s management. “I truly believe he’s back,” stated Davide Tardozzi, the Ducati team principal, following the first free practice session. “We have discovered the right path, and I’m confident he will be competing for the positions he rightfully deserves.”

Bagnaia’s resurgence can be traced back to the recent test in Misano, where he made significant strides with the GP25 motorcycle. Although the 28-year-old had various opportunities to fine-tune his bike throughout the 2025 season, the Misano test was the first in-season session where he experienced a breakthrough.

“Honestly, the Thailand test was not beneficial for me; I was quite slow and didn’t have the opportunity to properly test anything,” he admitted. “After that, the Jerez test was slightly better, but the real turning point was during the Misano test, where I could experiment with different setups.”

Interestingly, Ducati did not introduce completely new components for Bagnaia to test at Misano; instead, they provided him with parts that he had previously been unable to evaluate thoroughly earlier in the year. “During the Misano test, we assessed various components that we already had but hadn’t had a chance to truly explore this season,” he explained. “The track had excellent grip, which made it easier to feel the differences between components. While this track has good grip, it’s not quite as high as desired, so the performance stood out.”

When asked if he was now utilizing the same components as Marquez, Bagnaia replied, “Not everything.”

Ducati’s management also views the Misano test as critical in addressing Bagnaia’s ongoing challenges in the 2025 season. “Having a full day to test the bike at Misano allowed us to find solutions and evaluate them—something we can’t do during race weekends,” Tardozzi noted. “As our competitors continue to advance, having just one day to test helped us consider the best way forward.”

The Role of Casey Stoner in Bagnaia’s Development

Bagnaia had the added advantage of drawing on the experience of two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner during the Misano test. Stoner was able to offer an outsider’s perspective on both Bagnaia’s riding style and the behavior of the GP25 motorcycle. With a prevailing belief that Bagnaia’s previous struggles were more about a lack of confidence than mechanical issues with the bike, the discussions with Stoner proved vital in helping him unlock the performance he had been missing.

However, Tardozzi emphasized Bagnaia’s own contributions, stating, “He had conversations with Pecco, but I believe the direction is more about Gigi and Pecco working together.”

Although Bagnaia’s pace in Friday practice was a positive sign, the true test of his improvements will come during the sprint race on Saturday, an area where he has traditionally faced challenges. Bagnaia had previously believed he had made genuine progress during the Aragon test and again after a setup change at the Hungarian Grand Prix, only to find that these enhancements did not translate into race performance.

As the MotoGP season progresses, Francesco Bagnaia’s return to form appears promising. His performance in the opening free practice session at Motegi suggests that he is on a path to reclaiming his competitive edge. With the support of Ducati’s management and the insights from seasoned veterans like Stoner, Bagnaia may very well be poised for a successful run in the upcoming races, as he aims to solidify his position among the elite riders in MotoGP.

As Bagnaia continues to refine his skills and adapt to the demands of the track, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can maintain this newfound momentum and build on the success he has experienced thus far in the Asian leg of the MotoGP season. The journey ahead promises to be both challenging and exhilarating, as Bagnaia strives to reclaim his status as a top contender in the world of motorcycle racing.