Francesco Bagnaia speaks on his intention for the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race

 

Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning MotoGP champion, has expressed a strong desire to compete in the iconic Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. However, he acknowledges that this aspiration may be a distant dream due to scheduling conflicts and Ducati’s historical challenges in the event.

Traditionally, factory Ducati riders have found it nearly impossible to participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours, as the manufacturer has rarely fielded a factory entry in this prestigious race. Nonetheless, this year marked a shift in Ducati’s approach.

The brand provided official support to Team Kagayama, which competes in Japan’s JSB1000 class with a Ducati Panigale V4 R. The team performed

commendably, finishing fourth in the endurance race, narrowly missing out on a podium spot to the Yoshimura SERT Suzuki team, which went on to claim the 2024 Endurance World Championship title.

Ducati’s growing involvement at Suzuka, combined with insights from former Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti—who revealed the brand’s ambitions to conquer the Suzuka 8 Hours—hints at a potential future for Ducati’s factory MotoGP riders in the race. With the MotoGP and Endurance World Championship (EWC) calendars for 2025 now available, a window appears to be opening, as there are no overlapping events scheduled for the second consecutive year.

In a recent interview at the Indonesian Grand Prix, Bagnaia reflected on his aspirations, saying, “I thought about it, and maybe a race will be removed or postponed and I can’t go, but I don’t think they [Ducati] want me to go.”

He acknowledged the grueling nature of the MotoGP season, which comprises 22 races, equating to 44 intense weekends of competition. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful. “It’s one of my biggest dreams; I always dreamed about going to Suzuka and racing there in the 8 Hours.”

Yet, the reality of his MotoGP commitments may delay this dream. Bagnaia humorously remarked, “Maybe I will have to wait until I’m retired. I hope not, because I want to do it before, when I’m at my maximum, but let’s see. I will ask for it, but it’s difficult right now. Next year, surely, will be difficult.”

As Bagnaia continues to excel in the MotoGP series, fans and racing enthusiasts alike will keep a keen eye on his future, hoping that his dream of competing at Suzuka will one day become a reality.