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Neil Hodgson says Francesco Bagnaia's MotoGP world championship hopes are 'gone' after Marc Marquez double at Grand Prix Czechia - 'Forget about it'
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Published 20/07/2025 at 14:44 GMT+1
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Marc Marquez scored his eighth MotoGP weekend double of the season on Sunday when he cruised to victory at Grand Prix Czechia, usurping Marco Bezzecchi in the process. TNT Sports expert Neil Hodgson suggested that Marquez's team-mate Francesco Bagnaia would have to banish all thoughts of winning the title this year, and come back fresh after the summer break.
'That is the move' - Marquez takes the lead at Grand Prix Czechia
Video credit: TNT Sports
Neil Hodgson said that MotoGP world championship hopes for Francesco Bagnaia are "gone".
Bagnaia came in fourth spot on Sunday at Grand Prix Czechia, leaving him more than 150 points behind his Ducati Lenovo team-mate, Marc Marquez.
Bagnaia is a two-time world champion and had harboured hopes of winning back the title after last season, when Jorge Martin (KTM) claimed the title in dramatic circumstances, before his move to Aprilia.
A seventh world championship looks close to nailed on for Marquez as he scored another double weekend victory in Brno. He holds a 120-point lead over his closest challenger and younger brother, Alex Marquez, who crashed out early in the race on Sunday.
Marquez became the first rider to win five doubles in a row - and his eighth of the season overall - as he racks up more records during a stellar career.
Bagnaia was unable to close the gap on Pedro Acosta, who took third place behind Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia), and TNT Sports expert Hodgson praised Marquez for another impressive showing.
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'Is Bezzecchi going to pounce now? - Aprilia rider takes early lead at Grand Prix Czechia
Video credit: TNT Sports
Asked about his rider of the weekend, he replied: "I'm not going to surprise you, I've got to say Marc Marquez, absolutely dominant."
Later, as Bagnaia returned to the team garage, it was suggested that he needed to take the summer break away from the bike and try to come back fresh.
Hodgson replied: "Don't overthink it. Go away with your wife, have some fun, forget about it, try and enjoy yourself.
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"Then, try and work out how you tackle the second half of the season. The championship, well, that's gone, there's no point lying about that."
MotoGP returns live on TNT Sports and discovery+ for Grand Prix Austria, which starts on Friday, August 15.
Stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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