MotoGP, Assen: Pecco Bagnaia Forced to Retire: What Happened to the Ducati Rider

The Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix has been decidedly unlucky for the Italian team: after Marco Bezzecchi’s serious crash, Pecco Bagnaia also had to throw in the towel on the 16th lap, this time due to a technical issue. Ranked fourth at the time, Bagnaia appeared unable to apply the front brake properly: after briefly running off the track, he returned but headed straight for the pit lane.

Ducati’s engineers are already at work trying to figure out what went wrong and why Bagnaia had to end the main race at the Assen circuit with a “zero.” Sunday’s race marked Bagnaia’s first retirement after four races (plus Saturday’s Sprint) in which he had consistently scored points, finishing third in the main races at Barcelona, Mugello, Balaton Park, and Brno, and claiming victory in the Sprint right there on the Czech track.