Ducati: Paolo Beltramo Doesn’t Mince Words About Pecco Bagnaia

Pecco Bagnaia’s prolonged slump continues to make headlines, as he concluded a MotoGP race weekend without scoring any points in the standings for the second consecutive time, finishing outside the points in the Sprints at both Great Britain and Aragon and crashing out in the full-length races on Sunday. In an attempt to explain what is happening to the three-time world champion, Paolo Beltramo didn’t mince words during his appearance on “Reparto Corse” on Sky Sport.

Don’t touch the pit girls! Photos

“He’s going through a tough time,” began Beltramo, a longtime TV personality covering the MotoGP World Championship. “When he manages to stay up front, he does so with dignity, sometimes posting lap times close to the best, but he’s been struggling since last season.” There have been a few flashes here and there, it must be said, and he remains, after all, a rider who has won three world championships, two of them consecutively in MotoGP. The problem is that he’s never really found his groove with this bike, and by now it’s clear that there are technical issues the team can’t seem to resolve.”

“We’re in the second half of the championship; his future is already set with the move to Aprilia, and from here on out he’ll at least try to achieve some personal satisfaction,” the Sky Sport analyst added. For a rider of his caliber, it’s frustrating to find himself fighting for back-of-the-pack positions, far from the spotlight. Misano will be a source of motivation for him as well as for the other Italians: a track he knows, an environment that can help him rediscover better form, and, perhaps, a result that breaks the monotony of a complicated season.”

Don’t touch the umbrella girls! Photos

After thirteen races this season, Bagnaia is eighth in the overall standings with 143 points, far behind both the leader, Jorga Martin, with 256 points, and his Ducati factory team teammate, Marc Marquez, who, with his one-two finish at Motorland Aragon, has moved into second place in the standings with 237 points. Bagnaia has secured just one victory this year, in the Sprint race in the Czech Republic, along with three second-place finishes in the Saturday races and four third-place finishes in the Sunday races.