Pecco Bagnaia Retracts Austria MotoGP Outburst, Denies Ducati Issues

Two-time MotoGP World Champion Pecco Bagnaia has retracted his controversial “running out of patience” comments made after the Austrian Grand Prix, affirming “no problems at all” with Ducati. Following a disappointing result at Red Bull Ring, Bagnaia is now focusing on the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend (22–24 August) with adjusted expectations. This in-depth analysis is presented by SPORTRIK based on official sources.

Clarification on Austria Comments

At the Austrian Grand Prix, Pecco Bagnaia finished a distant eighth, trailing over 12 seconds behind his teammate, Marc Marquez, who won the race. Post-race, Bagnaia expressed frustration, stating he was “running out of patience” for Ducati to resolve issues with the GP25 bike.

This followed remarks from Ducati’s general manager, who labeled his performance “underwhelming” and a “wasted opportunity.” Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Bagnaia clarified that his comments were made in the heat of the moment after a “disaster race.” “My fault is being too transparent. After a bad race like Austria, I lost patience speaking to the media,” he said. He emphasized, “There are no problems with the team. We’re all in the same boat, trying to figure out the situation.”

Persistent Challenges with the GP25

Bagnaia admitted that the 2025 season has been challenging, with recurring issues on the GP25 persisting for seven months. Despite a strong showing in Friday practice at Austria, his race performance faltered significantly. He noted that he was slower than the previous year, a trend affecting all riders. “Everyone is slower compared to last year’s lap times. We need to understand why and what to do,” he said. In Austria, Bagnaia struggled to maintain his position, with rivals overtaking him easily, a stark contrast to his dominance at Red Bull Ring in the past three editions.

Realistic Expectations at Balaton Park

Facing the new Balaton Park circuit, Bagnaia has tempered his expectations. He acknowledged that aiming for a top-five finish, rather than a podium, is now realistic. “It’s important to fight for it. The scenario has changed compared to last year, but let’s try to do a fantastic job and see if we can compete for the top five,” he said. This approach reflects his focus on incremental improvements while collaborating with Ducati to address the bike’s issues.

Pecco Bagnaia is working to ease tensions with Ducati following his emotional outburst in Austria. With a pragmatic mindset for the Hungarian Grand Prix, he aims to find solutions to enhance the GP25’s performance. His progress will be critical for Ducati as the 2025 season continues. Stay updated with the latest MotoGP news at SPORTRIK.