Francesco Bagnaia experienced a tough Saturday at the Phillip Island circuit, where strong winds played a major role in hindering his performance during the sprint race. The reigning MotoGP champion, riding for Ducati, struggled with the setup of his GP24, a situation that only worsened as the day progressed. Starting the race in second place, Bagnaia dropped to fourth by the end, losing crucial points in his fight for the world championship against Jorge Martin, who claimed victory in the sprint.
Bagnaia had entered the race weekend with confidence, having been satisfied with his bike’s performance during Friday’s practice runs, where warmer, calmer weather conditions prevailed. However, a dramatic shift in the weather on Saturday, with colder temperatures and strong winds, severely impacted his Ducati’s handling. Despite initial hopes of closing the gap to Martin in the early laps, Bagnaia found himself fighting to maintain stability, particularly when navigating through fast corners, where he reported the wind acting like a “sail,” pushing his bike off course.
In the sprint race, Bagnaia managed to briefly climb back into second place after overtaking Marco Bezzecchi but couldn’t hold onto his position for long. Within a few laps, Marc Marquez and Bagnaia’s own teammate, Enea Bastianini, passed him. Bagnaia admitted to taking significant risks in his attempt to catch up to Martin but ultimately had to ease off, fearing further mistakes. The Italian rider acknowledged his frustration with the situation, feeling that the adjustments made to the bike ended up worsening existing issues rather than solving them.
Reflecting on his race, Bagnaia pointed out that the wind had been the most disruptive factor of the day, especially in high-speed sections of the track. Efforts to improve stability and control during qualifying proved ineffective in the race, and he was left with limited options other than managing the situation as best he could. Bagnaia expressed his disappointment with the outcome, though he remained optimistic that his team had identified a solution to try for the next race day.
Despite the setback, Bagnaia and his Ducati team are determined to make a comeback and address the bike’s issues before the next event. With the championship battle heating up and just a handful of races left, Bagnaia knows that every point matters in his bid to defend his title. As Martin extends his lead, Bagnaia will need to find a way to adapt to the challenging conditions and regain his momentum.