Pecco Bagnaia has explained the thinking behind the cryptic remark he made after a difficult Malaysian Grand Prix. Speaking in Qatar, the factory Ducati rider admitted that results were no longer giving him a reliable way to attract attention, so he chose to put another subject into the spotlight around his name.

His 2026 season has slipped back since the summer break, and the double world champion has not matched his earlier podium form with Ducati. Bagnaia finished 13th in Malaysia, while his final lap was slower than the Moto2 times. After the race, he said that something which had once worked on his motorcycle “doesn’t exist” and has not existed since his victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi later said he did not know what Bagnaia was referring to.

In Qatar, Bagnaia made clear that he had no intention of taking the remark back. He said he could not make the media focus on him through strong results, so he had tried a different approach. By his own assessment, it achieved its purpose because the comment was still being discussed. For the Lusail weekend, he set a top-six result as his target, provided the work with the team goes well.

Bagnaia also addressed the concerns surrounding the journey to Qatar. He was one of 19 riders who signed a letter in Malaysia to MotoGP, objecting to racing in Qatar while uncertainty remained over a possible escalation of the conflict in Iran. He said he had been worried about travelling, but decided to place his full trust in MotoGP, IRTA and the organisers to protect the event. His greater concern, he explained, was not being bombed but being left stranded if the airport closed.