Alex Marquez knows Francesco Bagnaia’s real problem after being hit by Marc Marquez ‘tsunami’
In the high-stakes world of MotoGP, every mistake, every gain, every lost corner counts. Alex Marquez recently spoke up about what he believes is Francesco Bagnaia’s core issue — one that’s been exposed once again, this time by the “tsunami” effect unleashed by Marc Marquez’s return to form. After observing the recent races, Alex thinks Bagnaia’s problem isn’t the bike, nor the team, but something more internal: pressure and confidence under fire.
Marc Marquez, after a period of adjustment following his switch to Ducati, has exploded back into form this season. His performance is putting intense pressure on Bagnaia, who, despite being the factory Ducati rider and finishing in many of the right places, seems to struggle whenever the spotlight is brightest. Alex says that Bagnaia “suffers a lot already during the free practice” sessions, indicating that the Italian feels the weight of expectations even before the race begins.
At the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Bagnaia seized an opportunity when Marc crashed out mid-race to score his first win of the 2025 season. The victory came with mixed emotions: relief, yes, but also a reminder from Alex and others that Pecco is still chasing consistency. Carlos Checa, a former champion, noted that Bagnaia left Texas “more motivated than ever,” but also pointed out that Marc’s very mistake — his crash — gave Bagnaia “wings and motivation.”
But Alex Marquez believes that Bagnaia’s bigger problem is psychological. When asked whether he was struggling like Bagnaia, Alex distanced himself. He stressed the difference in their situations: Alex says he had confidence in free practices and didn’t feel the same creeping tension. Bagnaia, by contrast, seems to carry a burden — a sense that being the “factory man,” the reigning champion, or the one everybody expects more from is slowing him down.
This isn’t just conjecture. There have been moments where Bagnaia looks good, very good — fast in qualifying, strong in mid-race — but then in high-pressure moments he seems unable to fully deliver. He hesitates, second-guesses, or pushes too hard too soon, resulting in errors. Those are the cracks that Alex sees. These issues are magnified when Marc is on another level: Marc’s aggressive pace forces Bagnaia to adapt or react, rather than drive comfortably. That shift tends to expose Bagnaia’s vulnerabilities.
To Alex, then, the “tsunami” brought in by Marc isn’t just about speed or racecraft — it is an emotional force that Bagnaia hasn’t yet fully mastered. Riding well in free practice, looking strong in qualifying — those are part of the battle, but the critical test is performing under pressure: choosing when to push, when to defend, how to manage the risk, how to calm the mind. When he can’t do that, Bagnaia allows small mistakes — a brake too late, a line compromised, a moment over-driven — to accumulate and cost him the result.
What’s striking is that Alex doesn’t see Bagnaia’s problem as permanent. He implies that with the right mindset — confidence, mental resilience, belief in his pace even when Marc is pushing — Bagnaia can return to his best. Winning in Texas has given Bagnaia some breathing room and a boost, but Alex seems to believe the rest of the season will test Bagnaia’s ability to hold under the weight of expectations.
In sum, Alex Marquez knows that Francesco Bagnaia’s real problem isn’t hardware or team strategy; it’s the mental load that comes from being expected to be perfect, especially when someone like Marc Marquez is back to challenging everything. If Bagnaia wants to be champion, he must master that pressure.
