Even Assen wasn't kind to Bagnaia… The end of his time with Ducati continues in painful fashion. There are some circuits that seem to belong to certain riders. Assen was one of them for Francesco Bagnaia. In the Netherlands, the factory Ducati rider had often found answers there when his season was going through difficult periods. This time, there were none. The two-time world champion retired from the race, a victim of a brake problem while he was in fourth position.
Another frustrating episode in a season that increasingly resembles a long separation between bagnaia et DucatiHowever, everything suggested that the new father could finally achieve a great result. After an encouraging sprint, the Italian approached the Grand Prix with greater confidence.
« After the sprint, I had a very positive feeling before the long racebecause I knew we could be competitive " he explained. Engaged in an intense struggle with Marc Marquez et Pedro Acosta for fourth place, bagnaia It seemed she was finally getting back into the rhythm she had so sorely missed these past few months. Then it all stopped.
The separation between Ducati and Bagnaia resembles a slow extinction.
Gradually, the sensations disappeared. "I wasn't piloting the way I wanted to." I was having difficulty slowing the motorcycle down and stopping it."As the laps went by, the braking problem became impossible to manage." After the halfway point, the situation became really difficult. Too difficult to continue. »
Retirement was inevitable. A huge frustration on a circuit where he had often been successful.
With this zero point, bagnaia quits Assen with 63 points behind the new championship leader, George Martin.
Mathematically, nothing is over. But from a sporting perspective, the Italian now seems to be fighting a different battle. His future is already focused on Aprilia, where he will begin a new chapter in 2027 after his departure from Ducati this week.
What is most striking is the contrast. Just two years ago, bagnaia embodied the man around whom Ducati He was building his project. Today, every weekend seems to remind us that this story is coming to an end.
Technical problems follow sporting difficulties, while attention is already turning towards Pedro Acosta, called upon to take his place alongside Marc MarquezBagnaia, however, continues to fight with the same professionalism.
But the feeling is now clear: this collaboration, which has produced two world titles MotoGP and marked modern history of Ducati, is living its final months. And even Assen, one of its favorite circuits, will not have succeeded in delaying this impression of the end of an era.
