Ducati reveals the “simple” change introduced to help Pecco Bagnaia in Aragon GP

Ducati and Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia starting to understand the ‘why’ behind a step forward made by the Italian rider in the Aragón Grand Prix

After being on the podium in three of the first four races, including the win in Austin, Pecco Bagnaia sank into a kind of negative spiral starting from the French Grand Prix (16th), without being able to recover in the British Grand Prix (crash) — a bad dynamic that continued in the Aragón sprint, where he lost many positions and finished 12th.

The two-time MotoGP champion asked Ducati for help, a change, “to talk and find a solution.” This Sunday, the rider from Turin managed to return to the podium, a brilliant third place behind an unreachable Marc Márquez and a solid Alex Márquez, but on the podium, fending off strong attacks from Pedro Acosta.

At the end of the day, Motorsport.com spoke with Davide Tardozzi, team manager of the official Ducati Lenovo Team, to find out what had changed.

“I think a small change was needed to give him confidence in braking,” said the veteran former rider. “We found it in the brake discs and the new system, so I think that really made a big difference,” revealed Tardozzi.

“That said, there wasn’t a moment, not even a minute, when everyone at Ducati wasn’t trying to help Pecco,” he added.

What makes Aragón unique

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

The Motorland Aragón Circuit is a track where MotoGP brakes are applied 29% of the lap, with a brake disc stress level of 4 out of 6, and classified by Italian supplier Brembo as ‘hard.’ Even so, most riders use the 340mm diameter model for the front disc of their prototypes.

“We used larger discs, the 355mm ones, which only Pecco used here in Aragón,” this Sunday, a small change that offered a big effect.

The question is whether this recovery will now be permanent or just temporary.

“I think we’ve understood some things, and I think Pecco has too. That said, we’ll see tomorrow what happens with other changes,” in reference to the official test taking place this Monday in Motorland, where Ducati hopes to introduce new features.

“Yes, we’ll have a new aerodynamic package and we’ll also test other things that Pecco set aside to improve the bike. Marc is already using some of them, so starting tomorrow we’ll ask Pecco to try them again to see if he improves even more.”

After the race, Fabio Di Giannantonio learned that Bagnaia had used that 355mm disc, and the Italian from Pertamina VR46 will mount them on his bike this Monday during the test, to see if they can also help him in riding the GP25.