Race report

Francesco Bagnaia claims Marc Marquez "could ride a tractor and be competitive”

Factory Ducati man once again heaps praise on the new team-mate he’s struggling to beat

Francesco Bagnaia has continued his recent policy of openly admitting Marc Marquez’s riding superiority, having said he could “ride a tractor and be competitive”.

This followed another disappointing day for Bagnaia, who on Saturday qualified sixth before crashing out of MotoGP's French Grand Prix sprint while Marquez won from second.

The double world champion is yet to beat his team-mate in any qualifying session or race – except where six-time champion Marquez has crashed – since the Spaniard joined the factory Ducati team for 2025.

While Bagnaia continues his season-long tune that he cannot find the right “feeling” on the GP25, he has also recently begun to add a defeatist element to his comments that is unusual for a sportsman in his situation.

The Italian’s remark came after being asked about Marquez’s evident affinity with a bike to which Bagnaia is struggling to adapt.

He pointed out that Marquez, who rode a Gresini Ducati GP23 last season, has come at the GP25 from a different angle to Bagnaia, who finished runner-up to Jorge Martin aboard a GP24 last year.

“Marc is coming from the GP23, a bike that was fast but with some limits,” said Bagnaia.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

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

“Now he’s riding a bike that is better. And without ever testing the GP24, he doesn’t know [the GP24]. [The GP25] is just an improvement for him.

“In my case, I feel that what I’m riding is not an improvement. Because my feeling with the front is not there anymore.

“And the other thing with Marc is that he could ride a tractor and be competitive. In my case it’s not the same. I need more confidence with the front of the bike.”

Bagnaia also said his sprint crash at the Le Mans Dunlop chicane, when he was running in fourth on lap two, was a mystery to him.

“Honestly, looking at the data, I was a bit slower [entering the corner] with less lean angle. But I still lost the front,” he added.

“I was there with a good feeling, honestly. With the rear I was prepared to fight for the top two. But entering there, I lost the front.”