“HE’S SO UNLUCKY TO HAVE A TEACHER LIKE HIM” Domizia Castagnini – Bagnaia’s wife blames Valentino Rossi for all of Pecco’s failures this year 👇👇
In the fiercely competitive world of MotoGP, champions are often judged not only by their victories, but by their capacity to absorb pressure, overcome adversity, and make the right choices when it matters most. This season, Pecco Bagnaia, a two-time world champion, has come under intense scrutiny as results have failed to live up to expectations. Behind the headlines, however, is a startling claim from Domizia Castagnini, Bagnaia’s wife, who asserts that much of her husband’s misfortune stems from the influence – or rather, the misguidance – of Valentino Rossi.
Domizia’s statements have sent ripples through the MotoGP community. She insists that Bagnaia has been unable to reach his full potential this year because he has been caught in the shadow of Rossi, whose legacy she suggests has steered Pecco off course more than once. According to her, Rossi’s espousal of certain philosophies and attitudes toward racing—such as risk aversion at critical moments, over-focus on caution, or advice that prioritises safety or image rather than aggressive pursuit of victory—have contributed to Bagnaia’s hesitation and unforced errors.
Critics of Domizia’s view argue that placing blame on Rossi is reductive. They point out that Bagnaia himself has admitted responsibility for many mistakes. In interviews, he has acknowledged that his 2024 season was marked by costly errors, near misses, and crashes that prevented him from seizing the title even though he often had the speed to dominate. There is also the matter of external variables—mechanical failures, unforeseen technical problems, setup issues—that have repeatedly undermined his efforts. For example, at Brno, a misleading dashboard warning about front tyre pressure disrupted Bagnaia’s rhythm and dropped him from contention; Ducati later confirmed the fault lay with an electronics glitch.
Yet Domizia maintains her belief that a substantial part of the burden lies with Rossi’s legacy—his expectations, his public stature, and his role as a mentor figure. She argues that living up to the image of perfection associated with Rossi may have imposed burdens on Bagnaia, making him overly cautious, second-guessing crucial decisions on the track, and thereby missing chances when an assertive move was needed. She claims that instead of letting Bagnaia follow his own instincts—formed over years of racing at the top—his judgement has been subconsciously filtered through what Rossi might think, what the public expects of him in relation to Rossi’s standard, or what Rossi’s advice might suggest.
Supporters of Bagnaia, meanwhile, counter that the decision-making in high-stakes moments is complex: MotoGP races are won or lost by the slimmest of margins. They argue that Bagnaia’s issues are less about any specific mentor, and more about building consistency—avoiding crashes, minimising mechanical issues, resilience under pressure—elements even Rossi himself had to master. Moreover, they suggest that many of Bagnaia’s setbacks fall within the rider’s own control, rather than being imposed externally.
Beyond the blame game, the real picture indicates a confluence of challenges. In addition to technical glitches like the Brno electronics warning, Bagnaia has suffered from lapses that are clearly his own: miscalculations, pushing too hard at the wrong moment, or losing momentum during critical phases. The psychological weight, perfectionism, expectation from Ducati, fans, and even his own inner circle, create an environment where mistakes are magnified. Thus, whether or not Rossi’s influence is as decisive as Domizia claims, it is evident that Bagnaia’s problems are multi-layered.
In the end, Domizia Castagnini’s accusation brings to light something fundamental: the toll of legacy in MotoGP. Valentino Rossi is more than just a former champion—he is an ideal, a benchmark, a voice that echoes long after he stopped racing full time. For Bagnaia, living in that shadow can be inspiring, but also overwhelming. As the season winds down, what emerges is not just a story of failure or blame, but a battle for self-definition. If Bagnaia can refind confidence, trust his own instincts, cut through the pressure, and reduce technical misfortune, he may yet salvage a strong finish to what has been a difficult year. Whether or not Rossi is truly to blame for much of what has gone wrong, Domizia’s words underscore one thing clearly: the path to greatness is never simple, especially when your mentor has become myth.
