Gigi Dall’Igna defends Pecco Bagnaia after tough Thailand GP

Ducati's Gigi Dall’Igna supports Pecco Bagnaia after his difficult MotoGP Thai Grand Prix, promising full team backing to regain his top form.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team, Luigi "Gigi" Dall’Igna, and Francesco Bagnaia of Italy and Ducati Lenovo Team stand on the podium during the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand race at Chang International Circuit in Buriram on March 2, 2025. Photo by Steve Wobser/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna has defended Pecco Bagnaia following a challenging weekend at the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix, reaffirming the team's commitment to helping him rediscover his dominant form. The reigning double MotoGP world champion struggled throughout the opening round of the 2025 season, unable to match the pace of his new teammate, Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia, who faced difficulties in the final pre-season test at Buriram, finished third in both the sprint race and the grand prix. Although he crossed the finish line just 2.398 seconds behind Marquez in the main race, the gap could have been wider had Marquez not strategically dropped behind his brother, Alex Marquez, to increase his front tire pressure and avoid a penalty.

After the race, Bagnaia expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m not here to finish third,” pointing to his testing struggles as a key factor in his lack of pace.

Dall’Igna: “Bagnaia deserves more”

Dall’Igna acknowledged Bagnaia’s frustration and emphasized that his third-place finishes were still significant given the circumstances.

“For Pecco, these were two difficult races—two third places that I, however, consider extremely important,” Dall’Igna said in Ducati’s race debrief. “He certainly deserves more than that, but at a track that he does not find congenial and while still regaining his feeling with the bike, it was crucial to secure good points without taking unnecessary risks.”

Dall’Igna highlighted the impact of Bagnaia’s testing struggles, which he believes disrupted the reigning champion’s rhythm heading into the new season.

“I think his uncertain feeling with the bike was significantly affected by the tests, which in his case were particularly troublesome and prevented him from riding with the consistency he needed,” he added. “I’m convinced that in the upcoming races, he will regain the confidence he had at the end of last season and will once again be in contention for victory. From our side, we will be doing our utmost to support him.”

Dall’Igna praises Marquez’s dominant Thailand GP performance

While Bagnaia struggled, Marc Marquez made a spectacular debut as a factory Ducati rider, delivering a near-perfect performance at the Thai Grand Prix. Marquez secured pole position, won both the sprint and main race, and set the fastest lap—firmly establishing himself as a title contender.

Dall’Igna was full of praise for Marquez, calling his victory a display of “pure talent and extreme skill.”

“A fast and decisive Marc Marquez masterfully imposed himself with a pace unmatchable by all the others, securing pole position, sprint win, race win, and fastest lap, demonstrating an incredible feeling,” he said. “Who could ask for anything more?”

Marquez’s strategic decision to briefly let Alex Marquez pass in order to avoid a tire pressure penalty was also noted by Dall’Igna, who recognized the risks involved.

“In order to increase front tire pressure and avoid a penalty, he had to let his brother pass in front before immediately tucking into his slipstream,” he explained. “Trying to stay as close as possible in those extreme Thai track temperatures was risky, but it ultimately gifted us a magical victory that smacks of pure talent and supreme skill.”

Ducati’s title fight intensifies

With the opening round concluded, Ducati finds itself in a unique position. While Marquez has already proven himself as a frontrunner, Bagnaia faces an uphill battle to reclaim his dominant form. As the reigning champion, Bagnaia is determined to bounce back, and Ducati is prepared to provide full support in his quest to defend his title.

The next round will be crucial in determining whether Bagnaia can close the gap to Marquez or if the six-time MotoGP champion will continue to assert his dominance in his first season with Ducati.