Pecco Bagnaia Hints at Reverting to Ducati GP24 After Argentina GP Struggles

In a surprising turn of events following the 2025 Argentina Grand Prix, reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia has openly admitted to considering a significant change in his racing setup. The factory Ducati rider, who has struggled to find his rhythm in the early stages of the 2025 season, revealed after a disappointing fourth-place finish at Termas de Río Hondo that he might revert to the full-spec Ducati GP24—the bike that carried him to glory in previous seasons. This admission comes as Bagnaia trails his teammate Marc Márquez by 31 points in the championship standings, raising questions about his current machinery and its suitability for his riding style.

Bagnaia’s performance in Argentina was far from the dominance fans have come to expect from the Italian star. While he secured a podium in the sprint race, finishing third behind the unstoppable Márquez brothers—Marc and Alex—he could only manage fourth in the main Grand Prix, a result he described as uncharacteristic. “Fourth isn’t my place,” Bagnaia remarked post-race, visibly frustrated. He went on to explain that the sensations he’s experiencing with his current bike, a hybrid version dubbed the “GP24.9” with some 2025 upgrades, feel “strange” compared to the confidence he enjoyed with last year’s GP24. “Maybe in the next race, I will go completely back to the GP24,” he admitted, hinting at a potential rollback for the upcoming Austin round.

The 2025 season has started on a challenging note for Bagnaia, who entered the year as a favorite to challenge for a third consecutive title. However, after two rounds, he finds himself outpaced not only by Marc Márquez, who has maintained a 100% winning record so far, but also by Alex Márquez, riding a year-old GP24 for Gresini Racing. In Argentina, Bagnaia finished over five seconds behind race winner Marc Márquez, a gap that has left Ducati’s technical team scratching their heads. Team manager Davide Tardozzi acknowledged that “something is missing” in the setup of Bagnaia’s bike, despite it being closely based on the proven 2024 design.

Bagnaia’s struggles appear to stem from a lack of connection with the updated components introduced for 2025. While Ducati opted to shelve major engine, chassis, and aerodynamic upgrades during pre-season testing, the current “GP24.9” configuration still differs slightly from the pure GP24. “I miss the feelings I had last year,” Bagnaia explained. “I lack that ability to control the rear tire—it’s something strange because I’m riding last year’s bike, but it doesn’t feel the same.” This candid assessment suggests that the minor tweaks made to enhance performance may have inadvertently disrupted the harmony he once had with his machine.

The prospect of reverting to the full GP24 is a bold move, but not without precedent in motorsport. Riders often return to familiar setups when new iterations fail to deliver, and for Bagnaia, the stakes are high. With Marc Márquez dominating aboard the factory Ducati and Alex Márquez excelling on the older GP24, the pressure is mounting on Bagnaia to find a solution quickly. Posts on X from fans and analysts alike reflect a mix of concern and optimism, with some pointing out that a five-second deficit to Márquez in Argentina—on a track supposedly favoring the Spaniard—still shows Bagnaia’s potential once he resolves his issues.

For Ducati, this situation presents a delicate balancing act. The team must address Bagnaia’s concerns without undermining their development trajectory for 2025. Meanwhile, Marc Márquez’s flawless start has only intensified the spotlight on his teammate’s struggles, fueling speculation of an internal rivalry within the factory garage. Yet, Bagnaia remains philosophical, recalling tougher times in 2024 when he overcame early setbacks to clinch the title. “It’s true that this isn’t the worst situation I’ve been in,” he said, signaling his determination to fight back.

As the MotoGP circus heads to Austin, all eyes will be on Bagnaia’s next move. Will he stick with the current setup and hope for a breakthrough, or will he take the plunge and return to the trusted GP24? Whatever the decision, one thing is clear: the Italian rider is not content to settle for anything less than the top step of the podium. For now, his admission in Argentina has set the stage for a pivotal moment in his 2025 campaign—one that could define his season and his legacy at Ducati.