The recent Ducati MotoGP team performance at the Silverstone circuit has raised concerns, with the factory team struggling to score points and facing significant challenges. The article highlights the team's struggles with tire wear, particularly the rear tire, which affected both Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia. The issue was unexpected, as it had not been a problem during practice, and it impacted Marquez's strong start in the sprint race, causing him to drop from the top four to the last points-paying place. Bagnaia also experienced a lack of rear grip, which the team did not anticipate.
The article delves into the team's challenges, noting that Marquez's physical condition, post-surgery, might be a factor in his endurance and performance. Despite his ninth-place finish, Marquez remains in the top four in the riders' standings, but he acknowledges the need to improve his endurance. Bagnaia's race ended in a bizarre incident, losing the front of his bike at the Luffield corner exit, a rare occurrence for him. The team's struggles are attributed to a persistent rear grip issue with the 2026-spec bike.
The article concludes by emphasizing the team's need to address these issues and improve their performance, especially with the championship race looming. The team's lowest-scoring weekend of the year, excluding Le Mans where Marquez withdrew, highlights the urgency of the situation. With Marquez 40 points behind the leader and Bagnaia 57 points behind his teammate, the team faces a challenging road ahead in the championship.
