Francesco Bagnaia says he is not overly worried about his disappointing result at the Thai Grand Prix, despite a slow start to his 2026 campaign. Bagnaia finished ninth in Thailand after struggling to find consistent pace over the race weekend. He acknowledged that conditions and tyre management made it difficult to push as hard as he would have liked but believes there are positives to take from the event.
Bagnaia and the Ducati Team had hoped to build on a strong showing during preseason testing, where he felt comfortable and confident on the bike. However, that rhythm did not carry into the race weekend in Buriram, with qualifying errors leaving him further down the grid than intended and affecting his race strategy. Despite a solid start that saw him move up the order, managing the rear tyre became increasingly difficult as the race progressed, preventing him from maintaining a consistent pace.
Source: Inside Motorcycle Magazine
The Italian rider described the result as not ideal, but not alarming either. He sees his ninth-place finish as a foundation to improve from, especially after enduring a difficult period late in 2025. According to Bagnaia, the focus now is on understanding why he lost performance compared to testing and on making gains where possible to close the gap to front‑running riders.
Bagnaia’s comments echo his broader season message that progress is a process. Despite early setbacks and challenges in adapting to hot conditions in Thailand, he believes there is growth potential both in his own riding and with bike performance. As the MotoGP season continues, how he and Ducati convert that potential into results will be key to regaining their competitive edge.
