“I’m running out of patience”

Struggling Ducati factory MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia has taken a harsher tone with Ducati for the first time this season following a poor run to eighth place in the Austrian Grand Prix.

‘Pecco’ started third and ran the first half of the race in that position until he began to fade dramatically. More than the speed deficit, however, he appeared incapable of defensive riding on a circuit difficult for overtaking.

Bagnaia ran off the circuit more than once when challengers came near his GP25, the same bike on which Marc Marquez won the race and is dominating the world championship.

But the Turin native was resolute in his stance, reminding his employers in no uncertain terms that he could not be the problem. Part of that reminder was that he had won the last three editions of this race.

“What has been happening all year has happened again,” the double world champion told DAZN. “I fight and give it my all. But this time, giving it my all, I finished eighth. The winner did it in the same time it took me to win last year. So I have the potential.

“I don’t know why things aren’t working out for me. [Third-place finisher] Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez did everything better than me. That I finished 12 seconds behind on a circuit where I always made a difference is something I don’t understand, and will never understand.”

Compared to his request for an explanation for his tyre issues on Saturday, which was directed at Michelin, Bagnaia was much clearer and more serious in asking for answers from Ducati on Sunday.

“I’m always focused, I’ve never lost my head,” he said. “But today I couldn’t accelerate; everyone was overtaking me coming out of the corners. I hope Ducati explains it to me, because I’m running out of patience.”