Bagnaia: I will learn to finish fifth instead of crashing after MotoGP title defeat

Bagnaia knows he needs to work on his consistency and cut down on errors after failing to defend his title this year

Francesco Bagnaia says he will learn that it’s better to accept defeat than go over the limit and crash, as he seeks to retake the MotoGP title in 2025.

Despite winning 11 of the 20 grands prix this year, plus seven additional victories in sprints, factory Ducati rider Bagnaia lost out on this year’s championship to the more consistent Jorge Martin from the satellite Pramac team.

The Italian’s campaign was marred with misfortune and unforced errors, with a number of crashes from leading positions - including in the penultimate sprint race at Sepang - leaving him chasing Martin in the points table for the majority of the year.

Bagnaia took victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix earlier this month and followed that up with a double triumph in Barcelona, but it wasn’t enough to usurp the points advantage Martin had built with fewer first-place finishes.

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Following the final race, the two-time champion has revealed that he has identified a lot of areas where he must improve during the winter break in order to come back stronger next year.

This includes giving up positions when he is not the fastest rider on a given day, instead of fighting too hard for the win and crashing out.

“We can be very satisfied and very happy [with 2024], but for next year we have to improve in some areas,” he said.

“I have to understand better maybe some situations because I've been taken out three times by other riders, I had an issue with the bike, then I crashed four times for very small things. So I have to improve and I will try to do it for next year.

“I'm a rider that never gives up, [but] sometimes it's better to think more and maybe finish in fifth or fourth than crash and this is something that I will learn.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

He added: “I just tried to do the maximum in all the three races and it wasn't enough because Jorge this season learned that sometimes it is better to be passed and finish second than winning.

“He did a fantastic job, he deserves the title.”