Racing legend Kevin Schwantz has raised an intriguing theory about Marc Marquez’s COTA crash, questioning whether the pressure from Pecco Bagnaia played a role in his mistake.
Marquez, who was leading the Americas MotoGP, suffered a heartbreaking crash, allowing Bagnaia to seize victory and deliver his first major statement in the 2025 MotoGP championship battle.
Schwantz believes that Bagnaia’s improvements with the Ducati may have added to the pressure on Marquez:
“As a two-time champion, Pecco knew he would find the confidence and the pace. He just wasn’t comfortable or confident yet. But they seem to have made some adjustments.”
He noted that Ducati had issues with cornering, forcing Bagnaia to adapt his riding style. However, the bike looked much more under control in America, and that could have unsettled Marquez.
“He had enough speed to get past Alex Marquez. Maybe that pressure was felt by Marc.”
Bagnaia’s victory now puts him just 12 points behind championship leader Alex Marquez, who has been incredibly consistent this season with six consecutive P2 finishes in both sprints and grands prix.
Can Marquez Shake Off His Crash?
Marc Marquez, who suffered two crashes in Texas, took full responsibility for his mistake and apologized to his team. Schwantz, however, believes that since Marquez understands exactly what caused his fall, he can bounce back quickly:
“It’s always there to affect you, just a little bit. The stronger the rider—mentally and physically—the less it will affect him. We’ve seen how strong Marc is.”
With the Qatar Grand Prix up next, a track that Bagnaia typically enjoys, all eyes will be on the Ducati riders to see how this championship battle unfolds.
