It's a tough pill to swallow for any racer: a promising start, but a disappointing finish. And that's exactly what Francesco Bagnaia is grappling with as he reflects on his recent MotoGP race in Thailand.
Bagnaia, a three-time world champion, arrived at Buriram with high hopes, especially after a challenging 2025 season where he managed only two grand prix wins, often overshadowed by his teammate Marc Marquez's stellar performances. The pre-season testing seemed to signal a turnaround, with Bagnaia feeling at one with his bike and posting impressive lap times.
But here's where the plot thickens: despite his confidence, Bagnaia couldn't find his groove during the Buriram weekend. A series of errors in qualifying saw him start from 13th, and while he managed a point in the sprint, he couldn't capitalize on his initial jump to ninth in the main race. It was only due to late retirements of other riders that he managed to scrape into the top 10.
Bagnaia's explanation for his struggles is revealing: "I was managing the tyres a lot... With eight laps to go, I started to spin till fifth gear... It was impossible to maintain a constant pace." The extreme heat, reaching 58°C on the track, and a special tire carcass provided by Michelin, may have contributed to these challenges.
The Italian rider's woes were further compounded by his team's relative lack of competitiveness. Bagnaia was already carrying the weight of a disappointing 2025 season, where he failed to finish the last five races. Yet, surprisingly, he doesn't view his ninth-place finish in Thailand as a setback. Instead, he sees it as a foundation to build upon.
Bagnaia's optimism is intriguing: "I think finishing the season as I did last year was important to restart... I'm not that worried... It's a point of start." He acknowledges that he didn't feel at his best during the race weekend, but believes that the pre-season test was a true reflection of his capabilities.
And this is the part most people miss: while Bagnaia faced challenges at Buriram last year, he still managed a podium finish. So, what's different this time? Bagnaia suggests that while others improved, his team took a step back, particularly in controlling the tires, which he attributes to the bike's reduced turning ability.
This raises an intriguing question: is Bagnaia's optimism justified, or is he overlooking critical issues? Is his strategy to build from this 'starting point' the right approach, or should he be more concerned about his performance? The debate is open, and we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
