Dear MotoGP fans,
It was already clear beforehand that Silverstone would be Aprilia’s territory. The lap times in qualifying and the race pace were very impressive. Ducati didn’t stand a chance.
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Although Alex Marquez had the pace to make it to the podium. Fabio Di Giannantonio also showed a decent performance despite the grip problems.
Marc Marquez couldn’t get a break all weekend. He said after the Grand Prix that it was his fault and he simply couldn’t find a way to be faster. That can happen even to an exceptional talent like him.
In comparison, the weekend was catastrophic for Francesco Bagnaia. A crash in Friday’s practice led to participation in Q1. In qualifying, he ended up starting 16th.
In the sprint, his rear tire degraded so much that he had no grip left at the end and could hardly lean anymore. Bagnaia finished only 17th on Saturday.
The Grand Prix didn’t go any better. Bagnaia lost positions in the early phase and fell back to 18th place. In the eighth lap, he finally crashed in Luffield. The front wheel suddenly folded while accelerating.
Why did that happen? “I asked myself the same thing. Very strange, honestly. I never lose the front wheel when exiting a corner. So, very strange.”
“And if you look at the data, it’s very hard to see anything. The only thing is that I completely lost the front wheel within milliseconds. So, very strange.”
Bagnaia now deals with disappointments differently
During the weekend, Bagnaia’s crew worked a lot on the setup and electronics and also experimented with aerodynamics. However, a solution to the grip problem was not found.
By the way, his crew chief Cristian Gabarrini was not in Silverstone because he injured his leg during the summer break. Lorenzo Goglia, head of development and strategy at Ducati Corse, took over his duties.
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However, that probably wasn’t the reason, because Bagnaia has a fundamental problem this season, which is why, unlike the Marquez brothers and “Diggia,” he hasn’t won a Grand Prix yet.
Only in Brno was he able to win the sprint. “Since the first race of the season, I have had no grip. Absolutely none,” he calls his main problem. “And we don’t know what to do. So it’s very hard to understand.”
I think something has still changed with Bagnaia. Last year, frustration, anger, despair, and disappointment were visible in him. This year, he deals with problems, setbacks, and retirements much more relaxed.
It is clear that he will not become world champion, and it is also clear that the chapter with Ducati will end in a few months. One or two podiums and maybe even a win are quite possible.
With 31 wins and two world championships, he is still Ducati’s most successful MotoGP rider. These successes remain forever, while these two difficult last years may someday be forgotten.
His long-term future is called Aprilia. With a four-year contract in his pocket, he has time there to return to former successes. With this perspective, it is also understandable if he sees the current difficulties more lightly.
At the end of June, his wife Domizia gave birth to their first son. This happiness will also quickly make him forget disappointing race weekends, even if he will have one or the other sleepless night at home for a good reason.
Yours
Who do you think was the loser of the MotoGP weekend? Share your opinion with me on Facebook or on Bluesky. There you will find my texts, insider information, opinions, and assessments on current topics. And of course the opportunity to discuss this column!
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