Michelin reveals cause of Francesco Bagnaia’s Malaysian GP DNF

Tyre puncture, and not a technical problem, was behind Bagnaia's exit from the Sepang race

Francesco Bagnaia’s late retirement from third place in the Malaysian Grand Prix was caused by a rear tyre puncture, Michelin has revealed.

Polesitter Bagnaia appeared on course for a podium position at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, despite losing the lead to eventual race winner Alex Marquez on the second lap and then dropping behind KTM’s Pedro Acosta on lap 13.

However, three laps from the finish, the Italian slowed down with what appeared to be a mechanical issue, as TV cameras caught him looking over his shoulder to the rear of the Ducati.

He was able to nurse the bike back to the pitlane, where he retired from the race.

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MotoGP’s official tyre supplier Michelin has now explained that an unexpected puncture resulted in his exit from the race.

"We found a hole caused by a piece of carbon, something on the track,” Michelin MotoGP boss Piero Taramasso explained to Italian television. "Pecco felt the bike starting to behave strangely.

“It's a shame because he was doing well, he had managed the start of the race well and still had more to give.

"For one or two laps, he felt like he was behaving a little strangely. Then the pressure dropped significantly on the next lap.

“We need to analyse the data to see exactly how much he lost, but within two laps, he immediately realised something was wrong and had to retire.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Asif Zubairi / Motorsport Network

While a full analysis is yet to be completed, Michelin suspects debris could be responsible for the puncture.

“The puncture was in the center of the rear tyre, so Pecco felt that the bike was starting to behave strangely.

“When he came back in, we looked at it and saw that the pressure was between 0.6 and 0.7, and then we found the hole, a piece of carbon or something on the track.

“It's a shame because he was doing well, he had managed the start of the race well and still had more to give.”