Three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has suggested that Pecco Bagnaia should consider working with a sports psychologist to overcome the challenges he faced during the 2025 season. Bagnaia, a two-time world champion, was expected to be a fierce competitor alongside Marc Marquez at Ducati following his strong 2024 campaign, where he secured 11 wins but narrowly missed a third title by 10 points.
However, Bagnaia struggled with the GP25’s front end instability from the start. In 2025, he managed only two victories and failed to score in the last five races, ending the season fifth overall and trailing Marquez by 257 points. Both Ducati and Bagnaia were unable to pinpoint the cause of his difficulties, and various bike set-up adjustments didn’t help improve his performance.
Lorenzo believes Bagnaia’s main issue is a loss of confidence and motivation. He emphasized that Bagnaia was in a prime position with Ducati—being a two-time world champion, riding an Italian bike, and holding the number one status. Yet, he noted that Marquez’s rapid progress may have shaken Bagnaia’s confidence, causing him to become overly passive and doubtful. Lorenzo warned that if Bagnaia doesn’t recover soon, he might face trouble securing his next contract.
Lorenzo hopes the upcoming break and testing a new bike will help Bagnaia reset mentally, but also urged him to seek external support, such as a sports psychologist. He pointed out how professionals like Valentino Rossi’s VR46 coaches and even himself have benefited from this approach. Lorenzo cited Andrea Dovizioso’s experience as an example, who, after starting psychological coaching in 2017, improved his mindset and self-belief without changing his riding technique.
He concluded by stressing the importance of humility and openness to addressing one’s mental challenges, acknowledging that while therapy might not guarantee change, it often does. This mindset shift could be crucial for Bagnaia to regain his passion and competitiveness on the track.
Fan Take: This advice from Lorenzo highlights the growing recognition of mental health and sports psychology in MotoGP, showing how even top athletes can struggle psychologically. For racing fans, Bagnaia’s comeback could bring thrilling new rivalries and a deeper understanding of how mental strength shapes performance in the sport.
