Francesco Bagnaia dominated the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi with pole position, Sprint, and Grand Prix victories, crediting Ducati’s recent technical changes for transforming his season.
Following a disappointing home round at Misano, Ducati introduced new setups during the post-race test that gave Bagnaia renewed confidence. He was immediately faster and carried that momentum to Japan, where he led every session and every lap of both races.
Despite celebrating a flawless weekend, the two-time MotoGP champion expressed frustration that the adjustments were not tried earlier in the year. “I’m very happy, but also very angry because maybe we could’ve done it earlier. Finally, I was riding my bike instead of fighting it,” Bagnaia said.
The modifications included older aero and rumored changes to swingarm, forks, and ride-height devices, which made braking and corner entry significantly smoother. While Bagnaia admitted he didn’t know all the details, he emphasized the difference was clear.
Looking ahead, Bagnaia congratulated newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez and said he hopes to challenge him in the remaining races.
