8 November 2009: Valentino Rossi wins the MotoGP World Championship for the second time in a row - and sixth in his career in this motorcycle class, since he took over from the 500cc class. A success that makes thousands of fans all over the world happy, including a twelve-year-old boy who lives in the Turin municipality of Chivasso. That boy is Francesco Bagnaia: on that day in early November he does not know, and cannot know, that it will be he many years later who will pick up the legacy of his beloved idol by bringing Italy back to the top of the World Championship.
From the beginning to the first triumph in Moto2
Since childhood, "Pecco" - named after his older sister Carola, who as a child could not pronounce the name Francesco - has shown a boundless passion for motorcycles. He then started racing immediately, starting with the Minimoto and MiniGP categories. It doesn't take long to understand that he has a natural talent for two wheels: in 2009 he became European champion in MiniGP, while the following year he raced in the Mediterranean 125 PreGP championship, finishing second. 2011 and 2012 were two more years of apprenticeship for Bagnaia, who took part in the Spanish speed championship, finishing third first in the 125 class and then in the Moto3 class. The turning point for the Turin rider came in 2013, with the arrival in the World Championship racing in Moto3 with the FTR M313 of San Carlo Team Italia. The impact with the category is quite traumatic: the first year he does not collect points while, in the following two World Championships, he closes with a sixteenth and a fourteenth place. Such a start could bring down a young guy like Bagnaia, making him think that two wheels can remain a passion and not become his real job. "Pecco", however, does not give up: he continues to pursue his dream of becoming a champion and history will prove him right. The change of course in Bagnaia's career came in 2016, his second year riding the Mahindra. In Holland and Malaysia he won his first 2 victories, finishing the championship in fourth place. The best result of his career still in its infancy, enough to decide to move to Moto2. In 2017 he made his debut in the World Championship with the SKY Racing Team VR46, driving a Kalex. In the end he finished fifth, finishing with 4 podiums in the season and 0 wins. A year of transition, in view of the triumphant one of 2018. That World Championship starts as best it could, with 3 first places in the first 5 races. The duel with the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira - riding a KTM - was to the death but, with a race to spare and thanks to the third place obtained in Malaysia, he managed to become world champion. An extraordinary result, but the best is yet to come.
Arrival in Ducati: the MotoGP World Championship returns to Italy 13 years after VR46
The triumph in Moto2 is a point of arrival but also a starting point, towards new and exciting challenges. In 2019, in fact, the doors of MotoGP opened for "Pecco" with the signing by Ducati. As in 2013 in Moto3, the Turin rider did not immediately feel the feeling with the new category in which he races. In fact, the first season is characterized by numerous retirements. The epilogue is the mirror of the whole year, given that he does not participate in the Grand Prix scheduled in Valencia due to the fracture of the left wrist remedied in free practice. A year of acclimatization for the "student" Bagnaia, ready to improve his university career and to graduate sooner or later. The following year, however, did not show any improvement. The second place in San Marino is the only light in a season full of shadows, also conditioned by the fracture of the right tibia remedied in free practice for the GP in Brno. Due to this injury, he was forced to miss the Grands Prix of the Czech Republic, Austria and Styria.
He finished the championship in sixteenth place, one position worse than the previous year's standings. The Ducati may begin to have doubts about him, but decides to promote him to the factory team (in the first two years he had been in the Pramac Racing team). A far-sighted choice that will soon bear fruit. "Pecco" immediately began to repay his team's trust. On the occasion of the debut Grand Prix of the 2021 season, scheduled in Qatar, he took his first pole position in the top category and then finished in third place. In the next 3 races he conquered 2 second places, and then had a period of decline. The triumphant end of the season, with 4 first places in the last 6 races, led him to play for the title with Fabio Qartararo but in the end it was the French Yamaha rider who triumphed. Here we are: the rider who grew up in Chivasso is ready to make history.
The 2022 World Championship is a novel: a slow start, with the first places at Jerez and Mugello counterbalanced by 4 retirements in the first part of the season. Quartararo seems uncatchable and ready for a second consecutive title, but Bagnaia does not give up on this finale that seems already written. His reaction is furious, with 4 consecutive races finished in first place. The duel with Quartararo went all the way to the last Grand Prix: in Valencia, thanks to his ninth place and his rival's simultaneous fourth position, he managed to become world champion. An exploit that brings an Italian rider back to the top of the World Championship after 13 years and Ducati after 15. This title gives great confidence to Bagnaia, who is also dominating the current season. Who knows if he would have thought of all this on November 8, 2009, when he was a simple Valentino Rossi fan with a talent for two wheels yet to be discovered.
Season 2023
The 2023 season saw Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia successfully defend his MotoGP World Champion title, confirming himself as one of the strongest and most consistent riders in the championship. Riding for the Lenovo Ducati team, Bagnaia has scored numerous victories and podiums, catching up with his rival Jorge Martin, showing great race management skills and enviable technical prowess. His strategy and determination allowed him to maintain a top position throughout the season, cementing his reputation as one of the best drivers on the grid.
Season 2024
In 2024, Francesco Bagnaia is ready to defend his world title again with the Ducati Lenovo team. With an even richer wealth of experience and an increasingly close-knit team, Bagnaia started the season with the aim of confirming himself as world champion. The first races of the year saw him still as a protagonist, with solid performances on Sunday and a few too many crashes in the Sprint Races, but nevertheless he remains among the favorites for the title. His ability to adapt to different racing conditions and his natural talent make him one of the most feared and respected riders in the paddock.
Future outlook
Looking to the future, Francesco Bagnaia has all the credentials to continue to dominate MotoGP. With the support of the Ducati team and growing experience, Bagnaia can aim for further success and cement his place among the greats of motorcycling. His determination and talent are guarantees of spectacle and competitiveness in the seasons to come, making him one of the riders to watch for anyone following the MotoGP World Championship.
