Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia has shared his thoughts on his 2024 MotoGP season, claiming that, had it not been for the addition of sprint races to the calendar, his campaign would have resembled Marc Marquez’s dominant 2019 season. The Italian rider, who finished as the runner-up in the 2024 championship to Jorge Martín, believes that the sprint race results played a significant role in his title loss, costing him crucial points in the standings.

Bagnaia’s 2024 MotoGP season was marked by a strong performance in the main races, but it was the sprint races where he struggled. Despite winning 11 grand prix races throughout the season—putting him in the same company as legends like Marquez, Valentino Rossi, and Casey Stoner—his championship challenge faltered due to multiple non-scores in sprint races.

The most damaging of these came in the Catalan and Malaysian Grands Prix, where Bagnaia was in a strong position, leading or running in second, before he suffered mishaps that cost him valuable points. In total, Bagnaia had five non-scores in sprint races, a significant factor in his title loss to Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martín. In contrast, Martín’s consistency, particularly in sprint races, played a crucial role in his 10-point victory over Bagnaia.

Reflecting on the season during an appearance on Andrea Migno’s podcast, Bagnaia made a bold statement about the impact of sprint races. He suggested that without the added sprint races, his season would have been similar to Marquez’s 2019 campaign, in which the Honda rider dominated with 12 wins and second-place finishes in every other race, except one. Marquez’s consistency that year helped him win the title by a massive 151-point margin, and Bagnaia believes that the 2024 season could have followed a similar trajectory if only the full-length races had counted towards the championship.

“It was an incredible season,” Bagnaia said. “Even though I won in Qatar, understanding the GP24 bike wasn’t immediate. It wasn’t until Jerez that we understood its true potential. I always finished in the top three on Sundays, except when I fell, like in Barcelona. Without the sprints, it would have been a Marquez 2019 year. Too bad we had to give up the title because of mistakes and bad luck.”

Bagnaia’s statement highlights just how influential the sprint races became in determining the overall standings. While he scored 370 points from full-length races, ahead of Martín’s 337, it was in the sprint races where the championship was ultimately decided. Martín accumulated 171 points in sprints, while Bagnaia only managed 128.

Despite his frustration over the impact of sprint races, Bagnaia remains reflective and positive about the lessons learned during a challenging season. “The team deserved it,” he acknowledged. “I made several mistakes this year, especially when I was slowing down, like in Barcelona during the sprint race.” The Ducati rider emphasized the importance of using setbacks as motivation for improvement, saying, “Losing is useful because it made me realize that we can’t let our guard down. I always set out to win, but sometimes you can’t.”

Bagnaia’s claim that his 2024 season could have been a Marquez-like domination without the sprint races is a compelling argument, especially when considering his impressive Sunday results. However, the addition of sprint races to the calendar has fundamentally changed the dynamics of MotoGP, introducing a new challenge that riders must contend with. While Bagnaia’s performance in the main races was extraordinary, it was his difficulties in the sprints that ultimately prevented him from securing the title. As the sport continues to evolve, the significance of sprint races will no doubt remain a topic of discussion, and for Bagnaia, it’s clear that adapting to this new format will be key to his championship aspirations in the seasons to come.