But with newly crowned champion Marc Marquez <\/a>missing Phillip Island – and the remaining 2025 rounds – due to injury, Ducati <\/a>suffered its worst weekend in recent history in Australia.<\/p>\n Qualifying saw the first front row without a Ducati rider since 2020, followed by the first-ever Sprint race without a Desmosedici on the podium.<\/p>\n A grand prix runner-up finish for VR46\u2019s Fabio di Giannantonio between the Aprilias of Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi salvaged some pride, but the factory team failed to score a single point.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Francesco Bagnaia<\/a> was 19th in the Sprint before crashing out of the grand prix, where Marc Marquez\u2019s replacement Michele Pirro finished last.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter Australia, we really needed to get back to the top, also to remind ourselves, as was so evident last Sunday, that staying at the top is never a foregone conclusion, but can only but stem from constant commitment,\u201d Dall\u2019Igna wrote on Linked In.<\/p>\n Much to Ducati\u2019s relief, Bagnaia was back on form at Sepang. The Italian claimed pole position and a Sprint victory before a puncture ended his hopes of a podium finish in the grand prix.<\/p>\n Dall\u2019Igna, Bagnaia, 2025 Malaysian MotoGP Sprint<\/p>\n For Dall\u2019Igna, the most encouraging sign was that \u201cfor the first time this year,\u201d the team successfully turned around a difficult start to a weekend for Bagnaia<\/a>, hinting at progress in understanding the GP25\u2019s handling inconsistencies.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cThis was an absolutely positive weekend for Pecco,\u201d Dall\u2019Igna wrote. \u201cWe did a remarkable job\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cAll in all, it was one of the most positive weekends of the championship, both for our performance on the track, with a top spot on Saturday, but above all because for the first time this year we managed to turn around a very complicated Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a shame it all didn’t finish in the best possible way, but morale is high and we are in good spirits: we will try to build on what we did well here, seeking the consistency level that is still eluding us.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ducati racing boss also praised Alex Marquez<\/a>, who won the Malaysian Grand Prix, rookie team-mate Fermin Aldeguer<\/a> for clinching the Rookie of the Year title, and Gresini <\/a>for securing the Independent teams\u2019 crown.<\/p>\n![\"Dall\u2019Igna,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/3000_gng_1278236_hires.jpg\")
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