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If Bagnaia was not cheerful about the previous third places, you can imagine how he feels about a 4th today. Yesterday he hoped to have seen a light at the end of the tunnel, but the Argentina GP threw him back into darkness. Undefeatable - as is now customary - the Marquez brothers, this time not even Morbidelli was within his reach, and the podium at Termas de Rio Hondo remained a taboo.
"I expected more from myself, I struggled to find my pace - explained a dejected Pecco - It's true that I wasn't too far from the first two - we're talking about a tenth, a tenth and a half a lap - but it was enough to make them go away. The fights with Zarco and Morbidelli also made me lose some time, but doing better than 4th place would have been difficult today anyway."
Which is definitely not good news for him.
"I had a good start, but then I wasn't good at managing the rear tire," he continued, "I couldn't get close to Franco, who pushed hard on the soft and above all was consistent. There is work to be done, there are things to be understood, because I can't ride as usual, I don't have the confidence of last year."
This is what Bagnaia cannot accept.
"I do my best every time I enter the track, today it was a fourth place - he brooded - As soon as I can have the usual sensations on the bike I will be back fighting for the position I deserve, which is victory, because I am not a 3rd or 4th place rider. This weekend I took a step forward, but it was not enough. I need time, it's also true that it's not a track I like, but that doesn't justify 4th place. I have to have the mentality that this is not my speed and I have to work. I know how competitive I can be."
Everyone wonders what Pecco is missing.
"The sensations I had last year - was his answer - I took a step forward, but I lack that ability to control the rear tyre, it's something strange because I'm riding last year's bike. Maybe, in the next race I will go completely back to the GP24 because I have strange feelings at the moment."
It cannot be said that this 2025 has started for Bagnaia in the best possible way, but the rider from Piedmont is also aware that he has been through worse times.
"Last year, the start of the season was more complicated," he recalled, "We took a completely wrong turn and only got back on the bubble at Jerez, I won the first race in Qatar just because it's a track I like. At the moment I'm not so bad, but I'm already 31 points off the top, so we have to change pace. Also because recovering so many points to a rider like Marc, who does not make mistakes, is more difficult and I have to consider that the next GP will be in Austin, where he is very strong."
Pecco will have about 10 days to try to turn things around.
"I am working hard as always," he assured, "I am ready, physically speaking I have no problems, but at home I will try to review and analyze everything to adapt to this situation. I know perfectly well that working with my team will be able to make a difference. We improved a little from Friday to today and we have to take the positive. I don't know why I always struggle at this track, it's an easy circuit, but every time I lose in the same places no matter what I do. I'm not giving up and will keep working."
