Pecco Bagnaia Defends His 2025 MotoGP Performance: '90% of the Criticism Was Unnecessary'
Ducati's Pecco Bagnaia has responded to the criticism he faced during a challenging 2025 MotoGP season, stating that '90% of it was unnecessary'. The Italian rider, a double world champion, entered the season on the heels of a successful 2024 campaign, where he won 11 grands prix and narrowly missed a third title by just 10 points.
With Marc Marquez as his teammate, Bagnaia was expected to be a strong contender for the championship. However, he struggled to maintain his form, winning only twice throughout the year and finishing a distant fifth in the standings as Marquez claimed his seventh world title.
Ducati made significant changes to the GP25 in an attempt to support Bagnaia, but his performance remained inconsistent, leading to tensions between the rider and the team.
Reflecting on the backlash, Bagnaia acknowledges that while some criticism was constructive, much of it was 'unnecessary'.
'It depended on who the criticism came from, because 90% of it was unnecessary,' he said during Ducati's 2026 launch event. 'When criticism is constructive, it's right to accept it, listen to it, and try to assimilate it. When criticism is pointless, there's no point in even considering it.'
Despite the challenges, Bagnaia maintains an optimistic outlook for the 2026 season, having completed his first test on the new bike in Valencia last November. However, his future with Ducati beyond this year appears uncertain.
Ducati is reportedly close to securing Marc Marquez's services for another two years, and there are rumors that they have also signed Pedro Acosta. At the 2026 livery launch, Ducati emphasized their priority of keeping Marquez, while Bagnaia did not mention any ongoing negotiations with the Italian manufacturer.
The future of Bagnaia's MotoGP career remains unclear, with persistent rumors linking him to Yamaha, as Fabio Quartararo's stay with the team appears uncertain beyond the current season.
Pre-season testing is set to commence next week, from February 3-5 at Sepang, followed by two final days at Buriram on February 21-22. The 2026 season will kick off with the Thailand Grand Prix from February 27 to March 1.
