Bagnaia: My 2024 MotoGP marketing campaign is stage with Marquez’s 2019 with out sprints

Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia believes his efficiency in MotoGP ultimate 12 months used to be on stage with Marc Marquez’s championship-winning 2019 marketing campaign, if sprints are excluded from the equation.

Bagnaia inspired along with his blistering tempo at the manufacturing unit Ducati in 2024, profitable 11 out of 20 grands prix and scoring 5 extra podiums within the different 9 occasions. 

However a string of crashes and misfortune – specifically in dash races – undid his excellent paintings, permitting a extra constant Jorge Martin to overcome him to the identify by means of 10 issues aboard a Pramac-entered GP24.

Whilst Bagnaia has at all times maintained that he misplaced the championship because of his personal errors, he’s additionally satisfied that what he accomplished ultimate season used to be not anything in need of outstanding.

Talking on a podcast hosted by means of former racer Andrea Migno, the Italian mentioned his 2024 marketing campaign may well be in comparison to Marquez’s dominant 2019 with Honda, when the dash layout used to be but to be presented.

“Personally, it’s been an unbelievable season,” mentioned the two-time MotoGP champion.

“It took us a little to know this motorbike neatly. It took us 4 races, till we were given to Jerez and understood the possible. [But] the whole thing has been fantastic since then.

“In the event you take a look at Sundays, except for the days I crashed or were given thrown off, I have at all times completed within the most sensible 3, aside from in Austin, the place I used to be 5th. 

“I feel it is been a season by which, if you are taking away the sprints, it is on par with Marc Marquez’s in 2019.”

Bagnaia’s new-for-2025 team-mate Marquez clinched his 6th MotoGP identify in 2019 in what is thought of as one of the most best possible campaigns ever put in combination by means of a rider within the premier magnificence.

The Spaniard used to be so dominant with the Honda RC213V that he gained 12 out of the nineteen grands prix and used to be by no means labeled out of doors the highest two. His best blip got here on the Americas GP in Austin, the place he crashed out from the lead and needed to retire from the race.

Finishing the season with a complete of 420 issues, Marquez completed 151 transparent of his nearest challenger and Ducati’s then chief Andrea Dovizioso.

By way of comparability, Bagnaia scored one fewer victory over a rather longer 20-round season and ended the 12 months with 14 podiums in comparison to Marquez’s 18. 

He scored 498 issues over the process the season, together with 116 in half-distance races. If best issues from Sunday races had been counted, Bagnaia would have outscored Martin by means of 24 issues.