Pecco Bagnaia exudes confidence as the MotoGP 2025 World Cup approaches, and for good reason – he’s feeling like a favorite, though he’s quick to share that distinction with Marc Márquez. The anticipation of duels between them is palpable, but Bagnaia is adamant that their on-track battles won’t mirror the infamous incident in Argentina 2016, where Andrea Iannone’s attempt to overtake Dovizioso resulted in both riders crashing and missing the podium, an event that marked the beginning of the end for Iannone’s tenure with the official Ducati team.
Nerves
The winter break is now behind them, and the first race of the season is just around the corner. Bagnaia acknowledges the usual mix of excitement and nerves that come with it. “Each is shortened by the winter break. Starting here is different from Qatar, but it is always the first race. Being in the photo of the grill is always fantastic. The nerves are going well, I sleep well,” he reflects, showing a calm and focused mindset.
Test
Bagnaia delves into the details of their winter preparation, highlighting the intensity and the numerous components they tested. A key focus was on the engine, where they sought to minimize risks while still pushing for improvements, particularly in braking. By utilizing the 2024 engine and recognizing there’s still room for enhancement, Bagnaia and his team, including Marc Márquez, worked closely with engineers, providing similar feedback that proved beneficial. “Winter preparation was really intense, with many pieces to try. It was very crucial for the engine theme, we did not want to take great risks. We had an engine that was going very well, but we were missing something in braking. We took the 2024 and we still have a margin of improvement with him. We work very well with Marc. The sensations we transmit to engineers were very similar and that is good,” he explains.
Beat Marc in Buriram
Looking ahead to the competition, Bagnaia expresses his ambition to win but also values the importance of a good, fair fight. “Winning is the best thing you can get, let’s try. We will try to continue with the streak of winning the first, but it is not the most important. I hope a good fight is free,” he says, emphasizing the thrill of competition.
Marc on track games
When asked about strategies or agreements with Marc Márquez, Bagnaia clarifies that their focus is on winning, and while they have no explicit agreements, the team’s ambition is clear. “We have no agreement. We are starting. It is not a secret that we both want to win, we are here for that. The team’s ambition is to win. We can expect that we are going to fight many times. I don’t feel that here I will do strategies. We do not want the other brands to cut the distance,” he states, underscoring the competitive spirit between them.
External rivals
Bagnaia also acknowledges the strength of external rivals, mentioning Aprilia, particularly with Bezzecchi, and Ducati’s own riders as potential contenders for victory in the first race. “Aprilia, with Bezzecchi, was competitive. Also Álex and Morbidelli were. It is difficult to say who will be the most constant. In the face of this first race, all of Ducati, Aprilia with Bezzecchi and Acosta can fight for victory,” he notes, recognizing the broad competitive landscape.
Tire wear
Discussing the track conditions, Bagnaia mentions the grip felt during the last race and how the circuit’s condition might change with the rubber laid down by Moto2 and Moto3. “In the last race I felt very good about the grip. Now he’s a bit dirty. Those of Moto2 and Moto3 will give rubber and can change,” he observes, highlighting the dynamic nature of track conditions.
Comparison with GP24
On comparing the current setup with the GP24, Bagnaia indicates that while the base remains the same, there are notable details that have been altered, such as the tilting, but the motorcycle overall is quite similar. He looks forward to trying out the new fairing and chassis in the future. “The base is the same, but we have details that have already changed. We will have a different tilting, but the motorcycle is quite similar. We will have more time in the future to try the new fairing and chassis, but it was important to have a base,” he explains.
Falls and doubles
Bagnaia expresses his desire for consistent top finishes, acknowledging the strength of Marc Márquez and the need for preparation. He hopes to avoid incidents like the one in Argentina 2016 between teammates, focusing on a healthy competition. “I would sign the first or second end every weekend. There will be a lot of fight. We already know how strong Marc is, which is very good in the race and we have to be prepared for it. I do not think we see something like Argentina 2016 among teammates, so we hope and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season. In loose races, some pilots know that they can go quickly before us and we have to be prepared,” he says, looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Motor decision
The decision to use the GP24 engine was made before the Thailand test, with both Bagnaia and Márquez sharing similar sentiments about its performance and potential for improvement. “The decision was not made in Thailand. We already think about it before. We both had the same ideas. The GP24 was already very good. Even if we lack something in line, which is not the case, it will be the right choice,” Bagnaia points out, showing a unified front with his teammate.
The risks of Jorge Martín
Bagnaia shares his thoughts on Jorge Martín’s situation, noting the unfortunate series of falls, including a strong one in the test and another in Andorra, which have impacted Martín’s preparation. “It is an unfortunate situation. He already fell twice in 13 laps in Malaysia. In the test it had a strong fall. He fell into Andorra and I think the climatic situations were not the best. He had bad luck and should wait a lot because the scaphoid is delicate,” he sympathizes.
Message to Martinator
Offering words of encouragement to Martín, Bagnaia advises caution, emphasizing the importance of full recovery to avoid risking his sports career. “I didn’t call him, I just sent him a message. I tell him to keep calm. If you suffer from another accident before being completely recovered, you can put your sports career at risk,” he advises, showing concern for his fellow rider’s well-being.