Ducati puts pressure on Bagnaia: "He did not meet expectations"

In Jerez, during the last Spanish Grand Prix of MotoGP, Ducati once again took victory in both the Sprint and the main race. However, for the first time this season, it was not a factory team rider who took the top step of the podium on Sunday.

After Marc Marquez's crash in the opening laps of the race, Pecco Bagnaia was unable to compete with the younger brother of multiple world champion Alex. The Gresini rider thus cruised to victory, untroubled by the Italian. He thus secured Ducati's umpteenth consecutive MotoGP victory, something that delighted Gigi Dall'Igna, the brand's leading engineer.

"22nd consecutive victory in MotoGP! A record equaled (The one Honda held since 1998. Editor's note), thanks to the superb performance of Alex Marquez, confides the Italian on his LinkedIn account, one week after the test. Not forgetting the result of Saturday's sprint race with six Ducatis occupying the first six places. A permanent dream."

“His first premier class victory could not have been more special, He continues. The fact that he is also leading the World Championship is a bonus that speaks volumes about this magical weekend and in recognition of the excellent teamwork of Team Gresini. Congratulations!”

After praising Alex Marquez, Gigi Dall'Igna was much more critical of Pecco Bagnaia. Struggling since the start of the season, the #63 driver often struggles to hold his own against his new teammate, and the podium he achieved at Jerez was far from satisfying his superiors.

"Pecco did not meet expectations, assures Dall'Igna. Firstly, because he has always accustomed us to better performances on Sundays than on Saturdays, but also because of the courage and determination he showed in that spectacular first lap. However, he lacked the liveliness we all expected, nor the bursts of energy needed for him to once again fight for the top.

Ducati faces tough opponents

As for Marc Marquez, the emotions were mixed. Disappointed by the Spaniard's crash, the Italian was also impressed by the race he led afterwards. "What can we say about Marc... unfortunately, it was a mistake that came too soon. We need to start thinking about our next commitment. We can certainly appreciate the courage of the rider who wanted to return to the track, bringing a badly damaged bike to score points, given the circumstances, in an astonishing 12th place finish."

The MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix was also the first in which Ducati missed pole position in 2025, fabio quartararo being the fastest on Saturday morning. After battling all weekend with the Ducatis, the Frenchman, along with a few riders from other brands, proved that Ducati now has tough rivals.

"Our opponents have shown what they are capable of, which of course does not surprise us and makes our challenges and this wonderful sport even more engaging. It is a reminder that we must constantly work hard to raise the level of our performances and make our fans happy." concludes Gigi Dall'Igna.

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