Rossi backs Bagnaia to “fight for victory again”

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is at a loss to explain Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia’s ongoing problems aboard the Ducati GP25, but says he is trying to help the double world champion return to his best.

Bagnaia is a graduate of Rossi’s VR46 Academy, along with VR46 Ducati rider Franco Morbidelli, factory Honda man Luca Marini and works Aprilia star Marco Bezzecchi. But, like the factory Ducati squad, Rossi has been unable to get to the bottom of Bagnaia’s 2025 battles thus far.

“Pecco is a three-time world champion, including a Moto2 title, also with our [VR46] team,” Rossi told Sky Sport Italy. “He’s incredibly fast, but unfortunately this year he’s going through a difficult time.

“Over the [previous] three years, he always fought for the world championship. He won two [titles], while last year he lost it in the final race. He’s proven his worth.

“This year, for various reasons, he hasn’t felt comfortable with the new Ducati. He’s started to struggle, alongside a team-mate as fast as Marc Marquez.

“We’re trying 100% to help him, trying to find a way to resolve the situation. We still don’t understand what has happened, but we’re confident that Pecco will be back at the front and fight for victory again.”

Bagnaia has been mystified by the Ducati GP25 all year long

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Rossi was also asked about the apparent lack of new talent emerging from the academy, but declined to talk about the future.

“The project began in 2012-13 and is something very important to me,” replied ‘The Doctor’. “I’m trying to give back what motorcycling has given to me and my life.

“It’s wonderful to work with young riders. It’s been a long road, but we’ve managed to bring four riders to MotoGP. They make us happy; I enjoy watching the races and cheering them on.

“There’s Luca Marini, who rides the factory Honda. He made a brave decision because the bike was having problems, but now he’s always at the top. There’s Franco Morbidelli, whom we’ve helped and who has been with us from the beginning: he won the Moto2 world championship and is now with us in MotoGP.

“Then there’s Marco Bezzecchi, who is giving us great satisfaction this year… and has had a fantastic season. In Australia, unfortunately, he had to pay the price [with the double long lap penalty], but he was the fastest.”

Rossi, now campaigning as a car racer in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, won aboard his BMW M4 GT3 at the Indianapolis finale last weekend. He is an increasingly rare visitor to the MotoGP paddock.