Bagnaia does not hide: “I know I am the one of the first rounds, but this year it goes so"

Francesco Bagnaia left the Mugello Italian GP with a bitterness that is hard to mask. In front of his home crowd, in his home race, the three-time world champion finished fourth, once again far from the victory that seemed within reach in the early stages. At the end of the race, the Ducati rider did not hide his regret, mixed with a hint of resignation: “I always give everything and today I finished fourth at home in front of a wonderful crowd. I did everything I could, but as soon as I tried to push as the race leader I almost laid down at the Bucine.”
The knot remains the same: a Ducati GP25 difficult to tame, especially on the front. “Unfortunately, as long as I have grip in front, I can be fast, but as soon as it drops a little, I do the same as all the rest of the year. I have to shrimp a bit,” Bagnaia explained. “I had for the umpteenth time a race where I just stood there and watched the first two, then Di Giannantonio passed me as well. As soon as I try to get close to try to overtake, the front is closing all over me.”
A technical problem that limits his possibilities and that, apparently, does not seem to afflict Marc Márquez in the same way. Asked how the Spanish rider manages to adapt better, Bagnaia replied: “Marc enters corners understeering, he forces a lot with his elbow, knee and gas. Being able to manage the bike like that helps him. I have always ridden with the front, and I suffer this behavior much more.”
Even Gigi Dall’Igna, general manager of Ducati Corse, acknowledged the difficulties: “Nice reaction from Pecco, I hope it’s the beginning of the turning point for him.” But Bagnaia’s words hint at something else: “It’s not nice like this. I know I can win races. But this year, at least so far, I never had a chance to get to the end of the race fighting to win.”
With an unstable bike at the front and a feeling never fully regained, Bagnaia remains a wounded lion. But even in his most bitter words, the determination of someone who doesn’t want to give up shines through: “I know I’m the one from the first laps, but that’s how it goes this year. Or at least so far.”