ESPARAGARO SAYS BAGNAIA MAY QUESTION HIS RACING FUTURE AFTER BECOMING A FATHER

Pol Espargaro believes Francesco Bagnaia’s struggles on track may have prompted him to reconsider what he wants from racing, especially since becoming a father. Bagnaia and his wife, Domizia Castagnini, welcomed their first child at the end of June. The two-time MotoGP champion has endured a difficult spell after losing the 2024 title to Jorge Martin at the final race.

Since the start of last season, Bagnaia has recorded 16 retirements against 12 Grand Prix podiums. He has also gone seven races without finishing in the top five. Speaking on the Gas it Out podcast, Espargaro said the contrast between Bagnaia’s happy family life and his recent results could lead him to question the demands of his career.

“He has a baby now,” Espargaro said. “For sure, on the personal side, he’s living a sweet moment. Then he goes to the racing side and now he’s asking himself, ‘Do I need to do that for a living?’” He added that a rider might not ask such questions at 20, before having people waiting at home, but that “life changed a lot.”

Former rider Neil Hodgson also reflected on the pressures Bagnaia faces. At 29, Bagnaia has won two MotoGP titles and a Moto2 championship, and Hodgson noted that he has achieved major success and built a fulfilling life away from the circuit. After two difficult seasons, Hodgson said, it is easy to lose sight of the danger and aggression involved in racing.

Hodgson does not expect Bagnaia to retire now. He sees the Italian’s move from Ducati to Aprilia as a chance for a fresh start, and said the change is the right decision. But if Bagnaia were to endure another prolonged poor season, Hodgson said, retirement would be understandable. “I’m not saying he’s going to retire. I don’t think he’s going to retire,” he said, while acknowledging that a long spell of bad results could bring the question into sharper focus.

Espargaro, meanwhile, expects Bagnaia to recover when he joins Aprilia alongside Marco Bezzecchi. He described Bagnaia as “an amazing talent” and predicted he would “fly again” and return to the leading positions. The move follows Ducati’s decision to pursue Pedro Acosta, though Espargaro suggested the change could ultimately benefit both Bagnaia and the team.

He also cautioned that the emotional swings of elite sport are part of a longer cycle. Bagnaia may soon rediscover the confidence and happiness that come with success, Espargaro said, but difficult periods can return. “You rise and then you drop again, as I did and all the athletes do,” he said, adding that only a small number of competitors manage to retire at their peak.

Bagnaia has signed a four-year agreement with Aprilia, although only its first two seasons are guaranteed. Casey Stoner, another Ducati title winner, retired at 27, but remains an unusual example of a champion leaving the sport early.