dubbed the French Grand Prix as “a race and a weekend to really overlook” after he crashed on the opening lap earlier than .
Ranging from sixth on the grid, the two-time MotoGP champion collided with on the first chicane of lap one, in flip taking out .
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Bagnaia was capable of get going once more and got here in for a change of motorbike, however it was a point-less weekend for the manufacturing facility Ducati rider, who additionally retired from Saturday’s dash race the day earlier.
“A race and a weekend to really overlook,” mentioned Bagnaia. “It is the primary time I’ve scored two zeros on Saturday and Sunday, in each races. We weren’t capable of take something dwelling.
“I used to be going robust, however I nonetheless have no feeling on the entrance, and within the moist, the state of affairs will get worse. Within the moist, the bike usually provides you suggestions, and this bike does not give me any. It was a disgrace as a result of my technique was good; the one one who adopted it was [Johann] Zarco.”
Like Bagnaia, Zarco opted to remain out on the moist tyres. This technique in the end proved to be the optimum one, because the LCR Honda rider went on to take the victory at his dwelling race.
Joan Mir, Honda HRC, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Group
Joan Mir, Honda HRC, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati TeamGold and Goose Images / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
Gold and Goose Images / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
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“Even with the crash, if I had come again, I might have completed within the high 5,” Bagnaia added. “However I needed to cease as a result of the shift paddle was partially blocked, generally the gears would have interaction and generally they would not.
“I then returned to the monitor with the opposite bike, however nothing labored immediately, and when issues go fallacious, it is laborious for them to proper themselves.”
After a 2024 marketing campaign which noticed him end runner-up to , 2025 has confirmed more difficult as Bagnaia is 51 factors behind championship chief and new team-mate after six rounds.
“It is not a snug state of affairs for me,” the Italian mentioned. “Under no circumstances serene, and, above all, tough for me to just accept, as a result of I’ve at all times been used to different issues, and now I am in a state of affairs the place I’ve no feeling with the bike.
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“Once I experience a motorcycle, I give 100% in all conditions. The issue is that with this bike, whether or not I do a quick lap, or I fall, or I do a lap 5 seconds slower, I at all times have the identical sensations, and that is the issue.
“We have been like this because the starting of this yr. I do not really feel the restrict, I do not know the place it’s. Till final yr, I felt the rubber, the actions.
“This yr, I do not really feel something till I fall. The entire crew is engaged on an answer. And it is even tough for them. We’re all in the identical boat proper now.”
Regardless of an unwelcome end result at Le Mans, Bagnaia didn’t shift the blame onto dangerous luck.
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“I do not recognise fortune and misfortune; they do not exist,” he mentioned. “Fortune belongs to those that win and people who fail. I’ve by no means thought-about myself unfortunate. It is not a straightforward time, that is all.”
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