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| Francesco Bagnaia. © Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images |
Francesco Bagnaia has declared that the upcoming Mugello Grand Prix is make or break for his 2025 MotoGP championship campaign, placing a rare spotlight of uncertainty on himself and Ducati. After a turbulent outing in Aragon, where his pace only improved following a last-minute change to his brake disc size, the two-time world champion now admits that if he doesn’t deliver at Mugello, it may point to deeper performance flaws than previously acknowledged.
"If I’m not competitive here, then we have to admit something’s really wrong," Bagnaia stated bluntly ahead of the Italian round. “This weekend will tell us everything. If I can’t be fast at Mugello—my home track—then clearly we have a serious issue.”
Bagnaia’s reflections follow a tough weekend in Aragon, where he spent most of the event languishing off the pace. It was only after Ducati’s decision to increase the brake disc size on Sunday that he found the confidence to mount a challenge, ultimately salvaging a third-place finish in the main race.
"Until Sunday, it was really complicated," Bagnaia admitted. "We found something with the brakes that helped me trust the bike more. Without that, I don’t think we could have done much. But now it’s about translating that into real momentum.”
For Bagnaia, Mugello is not just another race—it’s an emotional pillar of the season. As an Italian rider representing Ducati, the weight of expectation is palpable. Yet Bagnaia doesn’t shy away from the pressure; instead, he embraces it.
"It's great to be here in this moment of the season," he said. "This is one of those weekends that can define your year. I love racing at Mugello. The crowd, the energy—it’s always magic."
But this year, there’s a tinge of urgency. Mugello is no longer simply a homecoming; it’s a measuring stick for Ducati’s title hopes.
"I know how important it is to get a good result here. We will try our maximum," Bagnaia added. "I’ll try to keep Marc’s pace—he’s usually the strongest—and see if I can fight for the win.”
While Bagnaia was frank about the challenge posed by the Marquez brothers, particularly Marc, he was careful not to appear defeatist. In fact, his comments reflected the mindset of a veteran who knows championships aren’t won in a single weekend—but can certainly be lost.
"I’m not in the mindset that I can just go out and win both races," he said. "Marc and Alex have been incredible this season. But the goal is to build pace session by session. Starting Sunday in Aragon, we finally had something to work with. Now it’s about developing that."
Bagnaia’s tone was more analytical than emotional, focusing on incremental progress. He spoke of “implementing pace session by session” rather than expecting a sudden turnaround.
One of the most revealing aspects of Bagnaia’s comments was the admission that Ducati could be facing more systemic issues.
"If we don’t have the pace here at Mugello, then yes, it means there’s something more fundamental going on," he said.
That kind of statement is rare from a factory rider at this stage of the season. Ducati has long been known for its technical superiority and strong development path. But Bagnaia’s candor suggests that either the competition has caught up—or Ducati has plateaued.
And Mugello, with its long straights, sweeping corners, and high-speed demands, will provide a definitive answer. If Bagnaia and Ducati falter on home soil, there will be no more hiding behind setup excuses or one-off race anomalies.
Despite the technical concerns, Bagnaia remains emotionally grounded by the unique experience of racing at Mugello. The passionate home fans have always brought the best out of him, and he’s hoping that same magic can help reignite his 2025 campaign.
"I really look forward to this weekend,” he said. “To look around and see the fans, the Italian flags, the support—this place gives me a different energy. It reminds me why I race.”
Even in the face of uncertainty, Bagnaia’s love for Mugello remains unchanged. But whether love will be enough to overcome the rising threat of Marc Marquez—or Ducati’s potential internal problems—remains to be seen.
With the championship momentum clearly swinging toward Marquez, Bagnaia needs a statement weekend at Mugello. And he knows it. The challenge is not just external, but internal—both within himself and within the Ducati garage.
If Mugello delivers the answers Bagnaia is hoping for, the title fight could be reignited. But if it exposes deeper cracks, then the 2025 season could slip further out of reach for the reigning champion.
For now, all eyes are on Mugello—and whether Bagnaia can still set the pace, or if this truly is the beginning of the end of his title hopes.
