A racing incident, or a season's culmination of misfortune? Pecco Bagnaia's Valencia MotoGP crash verdict offers a glimpse into the rollercoaster that was his 2025 season.
The double world champion, Pecco Bagnaia, saw his race cut short at the Valencia Grand Prix finale, marking his fifth consecutive grand prix non-finish. The culprit? Johann Zarco, whose opening-lap collision took Bagnaia out of contention.
Bagnaia's weekend was already complicated by a qualifying mishap that left him in 16th place on the grid. Despite this, he felt confident he could have battled for a top-six finish on Sunday.
Zarco received a long lap penalty for the incident, a punishment Bagnaia deemed fair. "Honestly, the race just lasted 25 seconds," Bagnaia explained. "I was quite ready. I overtook six riders, so it was a good start. Just Zarco missed the braking point, and it was a racing incident. I think it was a racing incident, something that can happen."
He continued, "The penalty they gave to him was the correct one, and fair. This track is not easy. The first laps here are tough, difficult, with our bikes. He was just a bit too optimistic. But I could have done the same in corner two when I overtook three riders, and nothing happened. He tried to do the same, and he missed the braking, but nothing too strange."
Bagnaia's Valencia exit, coupled with his qualifying struggles, came just weeks after a puncture dashed his podium hopes in Malaysia. Having begun the season as a title contender, he ultimately finished fifth in the standings.
"In any case, one of the hardest, and maybe the worst seasons I’ve had - mostly the last part," Bagnaia admitted. "So, not much more to say about it. I think I said enough during the season, and now I’m just looking forward to riding the bike in the test, hoping that we will find the solution. I’m a dreamer, so I still believe it will be possible, and see if we can start with a good base for the test in February."
But here's where it gets controversial... Bagnaia's reflection on the tough season highlights his belief in the power of positivity. He expressed a desire to have enjoyed the races more, feeling that negativity had "attracted negative things." He pointed out that he had fun for the first three corners, and that a top-seven or top-six finish seemed within reach.
He added, "I think negativity is never the key, and when you start to think negative things, you attract negative things. It’s what happened to us. I think everyone was tired, and the season was quite tough for everybody, long, and if you’re enjoying the season, even if it’s long, you arrive to the last part in an easy way."
He further elaborated on the team's fatigue, acknowledging his own mistakes, such as the qualifying error.
And this is the part most people miss... Bagnaia was asked if he would approach the winter break similarly to his 2020 season. He responded, "I hope. I think the 2020 season ended in a disaster way, but for the incident with the leg. In the last part of the season I was completely destroyed by the crash in Brno and the operation."
What do you think? Do you agree with Bagnaia's assessment of the crash as a racing incident? Do you believe that a negative mindset can influence performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
