MotoGP Japan Day 1, does Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati/7) see the light at the end of the tunnel? "I was braking harder than in 2024"

Pecco Bagnaia has been in serious difficulty since the start of the season, but in Japan, he seems to be regaining his liveliness. Indeed, this morning, he was first in FP1, and even if he didn't manage to do as well in Practice, he still finished this decisive session in seventh position, synonymous with a direct passage to Q2. The Italian was rather happy with the solutions found during the tests at Misano, and felt interesting on his Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

Bagnaia was quite satisfied with the day overall, and with good reason. « The day started well, I felt good from the startWhat I tried in the Misano tests helped me a lot. This afternoon I was unlucky, some details of the bike made me lose 15 minutes at the beginning of the session. Then I started again and it went quite well, but I wasn't good enough in the second time attack, I lost a bit of time here and there, and I overdid it a bit at Turn 7. But overall, the day was very positive... like other Fridays of the season; in Austria it was even better. So, let's keep our feet on the ground and we'll see tomorrow." could be read in the columns of Motosan.

 

 

However, he stressed that this wasn't the first GP where he felt better on Friday. The problem is that once the lights go out, nothing goes as planned. « I said the same thing this year, but I struggled in qualifying and in the race.We remain calm, but I don't let them disturb us. Tomorrow's goal is to be in the top 5, also in qualifying; I will try. he continued.

 

 

He was still able to brake as he did so well in previous years, and that is a significant point. « I felt good, I could brake properlyI made a quick comparison with last year's free practice, and today I was braking a little harder. Like in 2024, I was first in the first session and seventh in the second; I hope this is a good omen » he concluded.

Do you think Pecco Bagnaia can pull off a feat this weekend in Motegi? Tell us in the comments!

2025 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix Practice Results:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport