Francesco Bagnaia braces for tough tests in Argentina and Texas
Francesco Bagnaia eyes Qatar and Spanish GPs for resurgence after struggles in Thailand.
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| Francesco Bagnaia of Italy and Ducati Lenovo Team prepares to start on the grid during the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit in Buriram on March 2, 2025. Photo by Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images |
By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini
Francesco Bagnaia’s 2025 MotoGP season began with back-to-back third-place finishes behind Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez in Thailand, leaving the two-time world champion facing an uphill battle. As the series heads to Argentina and Texas—two circuits where Marc Marquez has historically dominated—Bagnaia is already looking further ahead for opportunities to turn his fortunes around.
Ducati’s star rider sits 14 points adrift in the championship standings after the opening round, with the challenge only intensifying in the upcoming races. Marquez has a remarkable record at Termas de RÃo Hondo in Argentina, winning in 2014, 2016, and 2019. Meanwhile, his dominance at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas includes six consecutive victories between 2013 and 2018, plus another win in 2021.
Bagnaia, in contrast, has yet to stand on the premier class podium at either venue, raising concerns about how competitive he can be in the next two rounds.
When asked during the post-race press conference in Thailand about his expectations for the upcoming rounds, Bagnaia acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“Argentina is also a very strong track for Alex [Marquez] and for many other riders,” he said. “We need to work hard to close the gap.”
Despite the difficulties these circuits have posed for him in the past, Bagnaia remains optimistic that he can surprise his rivals.
“You never know because sometimes you start a race weekend and everything just clicks,” he added. “We’ll try to make that happen. But we haven’t raced in Argentina for two years, so I have no idea what to expect in terms of grip.”
Eyes on Qatar and Spain for a turnaround
Instead of banking on success in Argentina and Texas, Bagnaia is setting his sights on the Qatar and Spanish Grands Prix as more favorable battlegrounds.
“The goal is to minimize the points lost—or even gain some—over the next two races,” he said. “Then we go to Qatar and Jerez, which are both very good tracks for Marc [Marquez] but also suit me well.”
Ducati confident in Bagnaia’s rebound
Ducati Lenovo Team manager Davide Tardozzi believes Bagnaia will soon mount a stronger challenge, hinting that Argentina could be the first real test of his ability to fight back.
“I expect Pecco [Bagnaia] to challenge for the win in Argentina,” Tardozzi said. “As for Austin, we’ll see—but in Qatar, I believe he will be very fast.”
Tardozzi also pointed to Jorge Martin’s consistency last season as an example of how podium finishes alone can keep a rider in title contention.
“There will be times when Pecco leads races and wins,” he said. “When you’re always on the podium, as Jorge showed last year, you stay in the championship fight.”
The battle ahead
With 21 races still to come, Bagnaia has ample time to recover from his slow start. However, the upcoming stretch could prove crucial. If he struggles in Argentina and Texas while Marc Marquez extends his lead, the pressure will mount quickly.
The reigning champion’s ability to fight back in Qatar and Spain may determine whether he can challenge for a third consecutive title—or if the Marquez brothers will continue to set the pace in MotoGP 2025.
