P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ducati say Francesco Bagnaia is “for sure” back after he built on Misano test progres by topping FP1 at the Japanese MotoGP.
Francesco Bagnaia achieved his best start to a grand prix weekend this season by leading opening practice at the 205 Japanese MotoGP at Motegi. This success followed some unconventional solutions to his corner entry issues discovered during the Misano test. Despite doubts about the improvements transferring to Motegi, Bagnaia led much of the session, outpacing Jorge Martin of Aprilia even when he made a late-time push on fresh tires. His teammate Marc Marquez, aiming for the 2025 title, also performed well using a similar tire combination. The session revealed that most riders have not yet opted for the medium front tire, which was popular in last year’s Motegi races. Team manager Davide Tardozzi expressed confidence in Bagnaia’s resurgence, attributing it to the recent testing opportunities that aided in finding competitive solutions.
