Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia believes his efficiency in MotoGP final 12 months was on degree with Marc Marquez’s championship-winning 2019 marketing campaign, if sprints are excluded from the equation.
Bagnaia impressed together with his blistering tempo on the manufacturing facility Ducati in 2024, profitable 11 out of 20 grands prix and scoring 5 extra podiums within the different 9 occasions.
However a string of crashes and misfortune – notably in dash races – undid his good work, permitting a extra constant Jorge Martin to beat him to the title by 10 factors aboard a Pramac-entered GP24.
Whereas Bagnaia has at all times maintained that he misplaced the championship as a consequence of his personal errors, he’s additionally satisfied that what he achieved final season was nothing in need of exceptional.
Talking on a podcast hosted by former racer Andrea Migno, the Italian stated his 2024 marketing campaign could possibly be in comparison with Marquez’s dominant 2019 with Honda, when the dash format was but to be launched.
“For my part, it has been an unbelievable season,” stated the two-time MotoGP champion.
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
“It took us a bit to know this bike effectively. It took us 4 races, till we acquired to Jerez and understood the potential. [But] all the things has been unbelievable since then.
“When you have a look at Sundays, aside from the instances I crashed or acquired thrown off, I’ve at all times completed within the high three, besides in Austin, the place I used to be fifth.
“I feel it has been a season through which, for those who take away the sprints, it is on par with Marc Marquez’s in 2019.”
Bagnaia’s new-for-2025 team-mate Marquez clinched his sixth MotoGP title in 2019 in what’s thought to be among the best campaigns ever put collectively by a rider within the premier class.
The Spaniard was so dominant with the Honda RC213V that he received 12 out of the 19 grands prix and was by no means labeled outdoors the highest two. His solely blip got here on the Americas GP in Austin, the place he crashed out from the lead and needed to retire from the race.
Ending the season with a complete of 420 factors, Marquez completed 151 away from his nearest challenger and Ducati’s then chief Andrea Dovizioso.
By comparability, Bagnaia scored one fewer victory over a barely longer 20-round season and ended the 12 months with 14 podiums in comparison with Marquez’s 18.
He scored 498 factors over the course of the season, together with 116 in half-distance races. If solely factors from Sunday races have been counted, Bagnaia would have outscored Martin by 24 factors.
On this article
Rubén Carballo Rosa
MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia
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