Bold claim: Pecco Bagnaia could unlock his true potential with the help of a sports psychologist. That’s the position taken by Jorge Lorenzo, a three-time MotoGP champion, who says Bagnaia’s 2025 slump demands a mental reset as much as a mechanical one.
Lorenzo pointed out that Bagnaia entered 2025 with high expectations at Ducati—a two-time world champion, Italian, Ducati’s lead rider—and momentum from a 2024 season that yielded 11 grand prix wins and a title near-miss by just 10 points. Yet right from the start, Bagnaia battled a fragile front-end feel on the GP25, which fed a cycle of erratic performances and wavering confidence.
The result was a difficult year: only two race victories, zero points in the closing five rounds, and a final standing trailing Marc Marquez by 257 points in fifth place. Ducati and Bagnaia were both left searching for what was missing, as various setup tweaks failed to produce a clear path forward.
Lorenzo argues that Bagnaia could benefit from a psychological coaching approach, much like the one he used during his own career, to help him regain positivity and belief.
“Bagnaia had everything lined up at Ducati: the prestige of a two-time world champion, the hometown advantage of being Italian, and the number-one bike,” Lorenzo told Moto.it. “But Marquez arrived and immediately pushed the pace, which can trigger nerves, erode confidence, sow doubt, and dampen enthusiasm.”
Lorenzo contends that Bagnaia may have lost some of his self-belief and positivity, and he needs to recapture his cheerful mindset quickly, or risk jeopardizing future contracts. He also hopes a three-month off-season, plus a potential change of scenery or bike, could be beneficial, offering a chance to detach from negative thoughts.
Beyond a temporary pause, Lorenzo believes Bagnaia needs external help—a shoulder to lean on from professionals, such as a sports psychologist, or support from VR46’s circle, including Valentino Rossi’s team. He notes that many riders have benefited from such guidance.
Lorenzo has personal experience with mental coaching, and he cites Andrea Dovizioso as an example: prior to his 2017 title run, Dovizioso began working with a psychologist, which helped shift his mindset and build self-confidence, even though his riding technique remained unchanged.
Lewis, a seasoned MotoGP journalist, joined Crash.net’s team in August 2024 after five years covering MotoGP for Motorsport Network.
