Pecco Bagnaia's stay in purgatory seemed to have ended with his double victory at Motegi. But the Indonesian Grand Prix brutally sent the Italian back to hell—a place from which Ducati must now rescue him unconditionally.
Among all the things that Marc Marquez declared a little over a week ago, when he regained the MotoGP world title, there is a sentence that went almost unnoticed, but which perfectly sums up what the Spaniard went through at the darkest point of his career:
« It is the help I received that allows me to be here todayI didn't fall to the ground, I was already underground. If you're down, you can get back up. But if we're under there, someone has to pull us out. »
bagnaia has perhaps not yet reached such an extreme point as Marquez, but he too needs help—unconditionally and without political calculation. The Italian is at rock bottom, and he deserves to be supported. Despite his current situation, he remains the most successful rider in Ducati's history and the figurehead of the VR46 Valentino Rossi Academy. However, in light of recent events, one may wonder whether Borgo Panigale and the structure of Rossi are really doing everything to save their double world champion.
The concentration of egos in Ducati exceeds that of any other structure in the paddock—no surprise there. The factory has managed to bring together under one roof the two most successful riders on the current grid, while building the most dominant machine ever seen in MotoGP: the Desmosedici, the latest evolution signed by the star engineer Gigi Dall'Igna.
Dall'Igna is today one of the most powerful figures in the history of the championship. His voice weighs in all major decisions: technical, sporting, and even political. But this centralization of influence is not without consequences in a sport that has always glorified its drivers as heroes. Tensions inevitably arise — Andrea Dovizioso was the victim a few years ago. He, the only one to have defied Marquez in 2017 and 2018, ended up leaving Ducati at the height of his career.
bagnaia, who arrived in 2021 without any preconceptions, grew up with the bike until he became a double world champion (2022-2023) and a constant contender for the title over four seasons (2021-2024). But today, he is only a shadow of himself. And despite his efforts, Ducati seems unable to give him the psychological and technical support he desperately needs.
Ducati: an empire of egos where even champions can falter
Perhaps one of the causes of the current crisis lies in the evolution of the machine. Manufacturers don't like to admit that a previous version might be more competitive than the latest one. To admit this would be tantamount to saying that the development was a costly failure. That's why Ducati carefully concealed that Bagnaia had tested the GP24 with GP25 engine during post-Misano testing.
But the secret exploded last Friday, when Uccio Salucci (director of VR46) let slip the information: “ Pecco rode Morbidelli's bike on the Monday after Misano “, he revealed.
Immediate fury in Borgo Panigale. The sporting director Davide Tardozzi said he was "surprised" publicly. Some see it as a simple slip of the tongue by Uccio, others see it as a subtle act of defiance aimed at denouncing the treatment reserved for bagnaia.
If this was a genuine mistake, it raises two concerns: either the gaffe is unworthy of a leader of the rank ofUccio Salucci, or the communication between VR46 et Ducati is almost non-existent — unlikely for an organization known for its meticulousness.
In any case, the incident only made the situation worse for bagnaia, who once again left a Grand Prix without speaking to the media, as he had already done in Misano.
« It's clear that Pecco is devastated right now, more as a man than as a pilot ", recognised Tardozzi. " We want to protect him and respect his emotionsWhen Pecco arrives with tears in his eyes, it's inevitable: he's a fast driver, but also very sensitive. For now, we think it's best to leave him alone and work to get him ready to perform at Phillip Island. »
These words illustrate the current fragility of the double champion. Behind his impressive record, bagnaia is a sensitive pilot who seems crushed by the pressure, by the overwhelming superiority of Marquez and by the technical uncertainty of the GP25.
In a week, Ducati has gone from glory - the world consecration of Marquez and a promising double - to tragedy: injury to the champion and psychological collapse of his teammate.
The wound of Marquez will heal with time. But for bagnaia, the problem is deeper. It will take someone capable of putting their ego aside to reach out to the Turin driver.
Si Ducati If it succeeds in meeting this challenge, it will not only be the factory that produces the best bikes and the most successful champions. It will also become the one that protects and rebuilds its heroes when they fall. And this is perhaps the greatest challenge that the Bologna brand has faced since it began reigning over the world. MotoGP.
