Bagnaia Feels Like a Factory Rider Again After Impressive Showing in Qatar

Francesco Bagnaia admits he finally feels like a factory rider again after enduring a difficult spell of nearly two seasons. The remark came after Friday practice at the Qatar Grand Prix, where the Ducati rider was competitive throughout the day at the Losail Circuit.

Bagnaia, better known as Pecco, secured direct entry to the second qualifying session (Q2) for only the second time since the summer break. The achievement contrasts with the unconvincing form he has shown in recent races. Throughout Friday's sessions, he was consistently at the front regardless of tyre compound and tyre age.

According to Bagnaia, a small change to the Desmosedici GP26 had a significant effect on his confidence. He admitted he did not immediately realise there was an opportunity to push harder in the morning session, but in the afternoon he was aggressive from the start. "After so long without really feeling the bike, today I could do it. We only touched a small setting that helped, and I will keep going like this," he said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

The Turin-born rider revealed that the upturn in performance was not a total surprise. He had expected fewer problems with rear tyre grip because of the circuit's characteristics, which are similar to Brno. "I felt much better support from the rear tyre on corner entry," he added.

Even so, Bagnaia is aware that qualifying and the sprint race on Saturday will be more challenging because of the hotter temperatures. He believes the soft rear tyre will be harder to manage in the heat, but he remains optimistic for the sprint if he can start from the front rows. "Tomorrow will be harder in FP2 and qualifying because it is hotter. But for the sprint, if I can start at the front, we have a good chance," he said.

"Today I enjoyed riding. Being in a factory team but struggling like in the last races is heavy. Finally today I looked like a factory rider. I want to enjoy this moment and use all the potential to give something new to the team."

— Francesco Bagnaia

Bagnaia's revival in Qatar comes at the right time. His main rival, Jorge Martin, is injured; Pedro Acosta is still struggling with pace; and his teammate, Marc Marquez, is focused on chasing the world title. The situation opens a chance for Bagnaia to return to winning ways before he leaves Ducati at the end of next season.

Since joining the Ducati factory team, Bagnaia has been known as a rider sensitive to small changes on the bike. Last season, he was dominant at the Japanese Grand Prix after finding the right setup. A similar phenomenon appeared at Losail, making him a strong candidate to contend in both races this weekend.

With his form starting to find momentum, the question now is: can Bagnaia turn his practice speed into a real result in the races, or will the hot weather be an obstacle? The answer will be seen in the sprint race and the main race in Qatar.