What's wrong with Pecco? Bagnaia 'needs to find something' after sluggish Q2 - 'Only Ducati behind him is the rookie'
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Published 29/03/2025 at 19:10 GMT
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Marc Marquez continued his dominant start to the 2025 MotoGP season by taking a third consecutive pole at the Grand Prix Americas on Saturday, but his team-mate Pecco Bagnaia failed to impress once again with a P6 finish. TNT Sports' Sylvain Guintoli pointed out "the only Ducati behind him is the rookie" and said the two-time world champion "needs to find something" to kickstart his campaign.
Bagnaia ‘not quite there’ after qualifying P6 – ‘The only Ducati behind him is the rookie'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Francesco Bagnaia "still needs to find something" believes TNT Sports' Sylvain Guintoli, after the Italian's slow start to the 2025 MotoGP season continued with a forgettable qualifying session at the Grand Prix Americas.
The Ducati rider has been outshone by his illustrious team-mate Marc Marquez so far this season, and that theme continued in Texas as the Spaniard claimed a third consecutive pole position, while Bagnaia had to settle for P6.
Not only was Bagnaia more than half a second slower than Marquez, but, as Guintoli pointed out, he finished behind Fabio Di Giannantonio (Enduro VR46), Alex Marquez (Gresini) and Franco Morbidelli (Enduro VR46), who were also riding Ducati bikes.
"He’s still there, but there are another four Ducatis in front of him. The only Ducati behind him is the rookie, [Fermin] Aldeguer," Guintoli said on TNT Sports’ coverage of the Grand Prix Americas.
"He’s been like that since we got here. For Pecco, it’s still not quite there. He should really be in front of all the other guys, except for Marc maybe.
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Marquez 'dominates' to claim third pole in a row at Grand Prix Americas
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He will look back thinking ‘I still need to find something.’ He is going to have to fight hard against all these Ducatis.
"All these guys have very well-performing bikes and are very strong. For Pecco, that’s not ideal."
- How to watch Grand Prix Americas on TNT Sports and discovery+
- Marquez backed to 'absolutely destroy everyone' after first crash of season
Marquez wants 'more consistency'
Six-time world champion Marquez has looked unstoppable at the start of the 2025 season, winning the Thailand and Argentina Grands Prix and taking three straight poles for the first time since 2019.
However, the decorated Spaniard explained to TNT Sports that he still was not completely satisfied with his performance ahead of Saturday’s Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.
"I’m fast, now I need to work on the way to be more consistent and smoother," Marquez said.
"For example, in Free Practice 2 this morning I was able to be consistent and fast, but on the time attack I was exaggerating a bit too much and was slower.
"Let’s see if I can find a way to be a bit smoother, control the tyres. The most important thing will be to have a good start and try to lead the race. "
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Marquez wants to be ‘smoother’ despite claiming third straight pole – ‘I need to be more consistent'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Di Giannantonio wants to force issue with Marquez
There was a dramatic ending to the qualifying session when Di Giannantonio and his mechanics back in the paddock burst into celebration after the session had concluded.
The Italian claimed P2 to split the Marquez brothers of Marc and Alex after his quickest lap, which had originally been wiped out, was reinstated.
Di Giannantonio will therefore line up on the front row for Sunday’s Grand Prix and the Italian is hopeful he can challenge the Marquez dominance.
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Di Giannantonio hails ‘incredible job’ after claiming P2, aims to challenge Marquez
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I was seeing just now the pictures of my team being angry like me when the lap got cancelled," Di Giannantonio told TNT Sports.
"I think we’ve done an incredible job. The goal today was to be on the front row and we’re on it, so that’s amazing for us, for the sprint this afternoon also and for the race tomorrow.
"We know Marc has something more compared to us, but I think if we are close to him, maybe we can force him a little bit."
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Wild celebrations as Di Giannantonio has time reinstated to clinch P2 at Grand Prix Americas
Video credit: TNT Sports
Grand Prix Americas Q2 results
- 1. M. Marquez (Ducati) – 2:01.088
- 2. F. Di Giannantonio (Enduro VR46) - +0.101
- 3. A. Marquez (Gresini) - +0.360
- 4. P. Acosta (KTM) - +0.416
- 5. F. Morbidelli (Enduro VR46) - +0.441
- 6. F. Bagnaia (Ducati) - +0.523
- 7. L. Marini (Honda) - +0.649
- 8. J. Mir (Honda) - +0.920
- 9. J. Miller (Prima Pramac) - +0.920
- 10. M. Vinales (KTM) - +0.931
- 11. F. Quartararo (Yamaha) - +0.944
- 12. F. Aldeguer (Gresini) - +1.331
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‘That’s a good save!’ – Cat-like reflexes help Mir narrowly avoid crash in qualifying
Video credit: TNT Sports
Watch and stream the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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