Pecco Bagnaia is enduring a turbulent 2025 MotoGP season, but his composure and riding finesse haven’t gone unnoticed. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo has expressed his respect for the Italian rider, who, despite a noticeable dip in performance, continues to display moments of brilliance on track.
After dominating the MotoGP scene from 2021 to 2024 and claiming back-to-back world titles in 2022 and 2023, Bagnaia now finds himself in unfamiliar territory. With Ducati’s hierarchy shaken by Marc Márquez’s arrival and immediate success, the pressure has intensified. Márquez leads the championship with 233 points after eight rounds, followed by Álex Márquez (201 points), while Bagnaia trails in third with just 140 points.
Bagnaia’s sole win this season came in the Grand Prix of the Americas, capitalizing on Márquez’s crash while leading. Still, Fabio Quartararo has been keeping a close eye on his former rival and was quick to highlight Bagnaia’s riding style and ability to maintain consistency even under pressure.
“Pecco is going through a slightly more difficult period,” Quartararo told Mig Babol. “But when you watch him ride, you see that he has a style that is a bit like mine. He takes less angle than Marc, for example. He still manages to be fast and consistent, and that’s what surprises me enormously.”
The contrast between Bagnaia’s adjustment struggles on the GP25 and Márquez’s seamless adaptation has been a defining storyline this season. Márquez has already claimed four Grand Prix wins, seven Sprint victories, and four pole positions, quickly asserting himself as the top Ducati rider.
Ducati, meanwhile, is working closely with Bagnaia to analyze his feedback and help him recover his best form. As a two-time world champion, expectations remain high — even with the growing dominance of his teammate.
While the spotlight shines on Márquez, Bagnaia’s resilience and determination are earning quiet admiration in the paddock. Whether he can reclaim his momentum remains to be seen, but his professionalism in the face of adversity continues to set him apart.
