Francesco Bagnaia says Marc Marquez controlled MotoGP Thailand race

Francesco Bagnaia believes Marc Marquez had pace in reserve and could have won comfortably.

Francesco Bagnaia of Italy and Ducati Lenovo Team rides during the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit on March 2, 2025, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Francesco Bagnaia believes Marc Marquez had the pace to dominate the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix but chose to control the race before securing victory. The factory Ducati rider suggested that Marquez was “playing” with the competition, only unleashing his full speed when necessary.

Marquez, who recently joined Ducati’s factory team, secured pole position and led the race early on at Buriram. However, he slowed down on lap seven, dropping to second behind his brother Alex Marquez. The eight-time world champion remained in that position for most of the race before making his move with four laps to go, overtaking Alex at Turn 12 and crossing the finish line with a 1.7-second advantage.

Marquez manages tyre pressure before late surge

Despite initially leading the race, Marquez later revealed that he had to drop a position to maintain tyre pressure within the regulatory window. Running alone at the front had caused a significant drop in temperature, forcing him to adjust his strategy.

His controlled pace allowed Bagnaia to close in, reducing the gap to just half a second behind the leading pair in the final laps. However, once Marquez decided to push, he quickly built a gap, demonstrating his superior pace.

Bagnaia, who finished third, admitted that Marquez had the race under control from start to finish.

“I wasn't even close to stopping them,” Bagnaia said. “I tried, but it was like in the cinema. I was there behind, trying to catch them.

“I gave my all, but I couldn’t get close enough to Alex to attempt a move.

“Marc was playing with us all race. He had the issue with the [tyre] pressure, but as soon as he decided to go, he pulled 2.3 seconds on me in three laps.

“He was much, much faster. I need to improve, learn what he’s doing better, and close this gap. The next two races suit both of them, but I need to be closer.”

Bagnaia focused on consistency after 2024 title loss

Bagnaia crossed the line 2.3 seconds behind Marquez’s winning Ducati, settling for third place. While the reigning champion saw it as a decent result in terms of damage limitation, he emphasized that he is not content with finishing behind his rivals.

“I'm not here to finish third,” Bagnaia stated. “I learned from last year that it’s always important to take the maximum and to take the correct risk. Today, I was just managing the situation because I was risking a bit to finish third.

“I was there behind them, and every time I tried to close the gap, I had problems with the front. It was the maximum I could do.

“I will never sign up for third place, but it was the best I could do today. Next time, I’ll aim for second, and after that, first. I need to start working on my bike set-up like we did on Saturday and close the gap from then.”

Ducati dominance continues with factory 1-2 finish

With Marc Marquez securing his first win for Ducati and Alex Marquez following in second, the manufacturer’s dominance continued at Buriram. The factory Ducati squad has emerged as a formidable force, with Marquez quickly adapting to the Desmosedici GP25.

For Bagnaia, the challenge remains to keep pace with his new teammate and maintain consistency throughout the season. Having lost the 2024 title due to inconsistent results, he is determined to stay in the championship fight.

The next two rounds will be crucial in determining if Bagnaia can close the gap on Marquez, who has already proven to be a major contender for the 2025 MotoGP crown.