Francesco Bagnaia struggles with grip at Motegi practice

Francesco Bagnaia struggled during Friday practice at the Motegi Grand Prix, finishing with the 16th fastest time. The two-time MotoGP world champion cited significant difficulties with rear tire grip and braking stability, noting that it is currently difficult to slow the bike down during deceleration.

Despite these results, Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi stated that the technical team, led by Gigi Dall’Igna, has identified and resolved the previous braking issues that had plagued the GP26 model. However, Bagnaia continues to face performance challenges that contrast sharply with his dominant performance at the same circuit a year ago.

To address the ongoing performance decline, Ducati has reportedly been testing various technical approaches, including unconventional configurations, to find the correct setup for the Italian rider. Bagnaia expressed that the current situation is a stark departure from his previous success at Motegi, stating, “Unfortunately, everything has changed.”