Pecco Bagnaia finished sixth in the MotoGP Sprint at Sepang, 8.3 seconds behind the leader, with rear-tyre management defining his race. The Ducati rider started tenth after coming through Q1 and completed the 10-lap contest unable to match the pace of the riders ahead.

Bagnaia said the rear tyre had effectively run out by the third lap, which was why he considered the intermittent rain lucky. He described a strong launch and a good first braking point, but could not stay with the riders in front afterwards and ran wide while trying to manage the situation.

The slide begins as the bike leans into the corner

Bagnaia’s explanation centres on what the rear tyre does through the corner. He said the data shows it begins sliding as soon as he leans the Ducati into a turn and continues until the bike is upright on exit. He also said the problem is more pronounced on his machine than on the other Ducatis. The resulting lack of grip increases rear-tyre wear and limits how he can ride, a serious disadvantage at a circuit where tyre wear is already high.

Sixth is an improvement on Bagnaia’s recent results, but it falls short of his Sepang performance the previous year, when he won the Sprint after taking pole through Q1. He said the team would work on the problem. His 2024 lap record at the circuit does not alter his view of the current situation: Bagnaia knows what he can do, but said the team is not in a position to reproduce the performance it showed in Japan the previous season.