BAGNAIA LOSES EIGHT TENTHS IN SEPANG’S TWISTY SECTORS AND MISSES Q2

Pecco Bagnaia’s Friday at Sepang exposed a sharp split in his Ducati’s performance: he was among the quickest riders on the straights and under heavy braking, but lost too much time through the circuit’s flowing middle section to reach the top 10. The reigning two-time MotoGP champion finished practice 12th and must go through Qualifying 1 on Saturday.

The sector figures underline the problem. Bagnaia was just 0.035 seconds off Pedro Acosta’s best in T1 and 0.069 seconds quicker than factory Ducati team-mate Marc Marquez, who ranked fifth there. In T4, Bagnaia was third-fastest, 0.060 seconds behind Marquez, with Joan Mir between them. But he gave away around eight tenths across T2 and T3, where the faster, more flowing corners demand sustained corner speed. Marquez, meanwhile, topped both Friday sessions.

“My bike works only when it’s straight,” Bagnaia said, describing the contrast. “So I did the maximum, in the first and last sectors I’m in the top three. In the other two sectors, I lose eight tenths. So it’s ridiculous.”

Bagnaia said Ducati had opted to begin with the same bike configuration used during winter testing, but the results fell short of what he had expected. He identified the front end as the main difficulty in the middle sectors, where he is struggling to maintain speed through corners.

“I mainly struggle in the faster, more flowing sections, namely T2 and T3, while in the first and fourth sectors, where there are heavier braking areas, I’m among the quickest riders,” he said. “It’s really difficult to carry corner speed right now because the front tucks and I end up running wide.”

A lack of grip is adding to the challenge, Bagnaia said, leaving the team searching for a better connection with both the motorcycle and the Sepang circuit. “We must keep working to regain the right feeling with the bike and the track, where I’ve always been strong.”

Missing direct entry to Q2 is not unfamiliar territory for Bagnaia at Sepang. He also had to qualify through Q1 last year, yet went on to take pole position and win the Sprint. His Grand Prix ended early after a puncture, however, and Friday’s deficit leaves him with work to do again before the weekend’s races.