Francesco Bagnaia insists title fight isn't over despite 65-point deficit

Francesco Bagnaia has refused to concede his MotoGP title ambitions despite sitting 65 points behind Jorge Martin with nine rounds left.

The two-time premier-class champion suffered a double blow last month-retiring in the Netherlands before a sixth-place finish in Germany-leaving him eighth in the standings. Yet Bagnaia told Sky Italia he’s using the summer break to reset, not retreat.

**Francesco Bagnaia’s title hopes hinge on a strong second half after a rocky start to the season.**

Bagnaia will spend the break training hard in Italy, aiming to return at Silverstone with fresh momentum. His optimism stems partly from teammate Marc Marquez’s recent upturn after a similar early-season slump.

*“I’ll spend this break quietly-relaxing, training a lot, and preparing myself to be 100 per cent ready for the next race,”* Bagnaia said.

*“I’m happy that another rider who had problems similar to mine managed to solve them. So I believe that with the right support and the right work, we can solve them as well.”*

What’s behind Bagnaia’s mid-season dip?

Bagnaia’s four-straight podiums and a sprint win in May-June gave way to back-to-back disappointments. A DNF in Assen and a sixth in the Sachsenring left him adrift of Martin, who leads by 65 points.

The Italian also pointed to Ducati’s reduced edge this year. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi-once the title favorite-has tumbled to fourth after crashes, injury, and a one-race ban for assaulting a marshal.

How Bagnaia sees the title race shaping up

Bagnaia still rates Bezzecchi as the fastest Aprilia rider, despite his struggles.

*“This year, for the first time, Ducati is not as dominant as in the past,”* he said.

*“Bezzecchi is pushing hard and has had bad luck, but for me he is still the fastest on Aprilia.”*

Bagnaia also acknowledged Ducati’s inconsistency compared to Aprilia’s factory squad, where Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura have leapfrogged him in the standings.

*“Marc is very strong, but at Ducati, one rider shines in one race and another in the next,”* Bagnaia added.

*“We’re not as consistent in our results as Aprilia. But we’re working on it, and I think the second half of the season will be more consistent.”*

When will Bagnaia’s best form return?

Bagnaia’s confidence is pinned to Silverstone, where he expects to rediscover his pace.

*“Asked when we’ll see the best ‘Pecco’ return, he gave a cheeky warning: ‘In Silverstone.’”*

His optimism is backed by medical progress: Bagnaia underwent endoscopic fasciotomy surgery on his right forearm on 15 July, just before the summer break. Ducati confirmed the procedure and said he’ll begin rehab immediately.

*“Taking advantage of the MotoGP summer break, Pecco will now begin his rehabilitation schedule,”* the team said.

*“We all wish Pecco a speedy return to the track.”*

Bagnaia’s road back starts in two weeks at Silverstone, where a strong result could signal whether his title tilt is still alive-or if Martin’s lead becomes insurmountable.