P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Bagnaia in ‘race of defence’ as Ducati chatter strikes again in MotoGP
After a fierce battle with Marc Marquez, Pedro Acosta, and Jorge Martin at the start of the race, Ducati rider Bagnaia ultimately finished fifth at the Circuit of Americas, over seven seconds behind the winner Maverick Vinales. Despite lacking pace in the second half of the race, Bagnaia chose a soft rear tire, which did not hold up well due to vibration issues he faced previously. This forced him to focus on conserving his position rather than challenging the lead pack. Bagnaia expressed frustration with the tire problems he encountered during the race, damaging his chances for a podium finish. The Ducati team faced a challenging weekend overall, with Vinales claiming victory and Acosta finishing second, leaving Ducati as the third-best marque in the US round. Despite his struggles, Bagnaia remains hopeful that his team will address the issues and enable him to compete at the top level again in future races, as he currently sits fifth in the season standings.
