'He's still fastest' - Pecco Bagnaia explains why Marc Marquez isn't MotoGP title favourite

The two-time premier class champion had earlier recorded four-straight podium finishes and a sprint victory, but then retired in the Netherlands before a disappointing sixth in Germany.

As such, he sits eighth in the riders’ championship, 65 points off leader Jorge Martin, but he isn’t giving up just yet.

Bagnaia spoke to Sky Italia about what he expects after the summer break, and cited teammate Marc Marquez’s recovery to title contention as inspiration:

Ducati started the season as certainly the second-fastest manufacturer, ending their period of dominance since 2021.

Aprilia have led the way with both the factory squad and satellite outfit Trackhouse, although problems at the top team have completely changed the championship outlook.

Marco Bezzecchi has gone from leader and clear favourite to fourth in the standings, with even satellite rider Ai Ogura leapfrogging him into second.

‘Bez’ hasn’t scored a single Grand Prix point in the last four events due to a combination of crashes, injury and an assault on a marshal that resulted in a one-race ban.

But Bagnaia still sees him as the fastest on the grid, and perhaps more encouragement that he can have a title tilt before joining him at Aprilia next season:

Asked when we’ll see the best ‘Pecco’ return, he gave a cheeky warning:

The British Grand Prix is up next, showing the Italian’s confidence, and he’s also announced another upgrade - successful surgery on his right forearm.

A Ducati statement read: