Pecco Bagnaia is the youngest rider on the grid at 23 years old
MotoGP rider profile: Pecco Bagnaia
Born: 17/05/1991, Cremona, Italy
Career highlights
A highly-regarded young rider, Bagnaia has had a surprising lack of success in MotoGP for Suzuki so far, having started just seven races since his debut in the GP2 and GP2 championship in 2016.
In 2017, he missed out on a ninth GP2 championship by just 0.044secs from former World Superbike champion Cal Crutchlow and Marc Marquez, despite also being hit by injuries and banishment from Italy’s San Marino Grand Prix.
He won races at Laguna Seca and Alvaro Diaz in Spain, where he set the fastest lap and the best lap, but was relegated to fifth at Le Mans as he had used the track advantage to ease him clear of the field.
Bagnaia then finished last at the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where he lost third place at the start and ended up jumping over to the lead row in grid, allowing Marc Marquez to secure the win.
However, he ended up taking the championship points lead and leaving long-time team-mate Alex Rins in the dust.
Pecco Bagnaia factfile Date of birth: 17/05/1991
Comes from: Cretu, Italy
Plays in: Endosza
Translations: PAIGG (Italian), IRCM (Italian)
Won back-to-back GP2 championships in 2015 and 2016
Finished fifth in 2016 MotoGP world championship
Was upgraded to MotoGP factory Suzuki team in 2017
Currently without a team for the rest of the season
How does he compare to other riders?
Pecco Bagnaia’s raw talent has seen the 22-year-old, who stands at just 0.6ft tall, associated with electric, freak-like capabilities.
While it is perhaps understandable that teams have not yet recognised him as equal to the flying machines he climbs into, all the same, he has shown the ability to land in MotoGP with comparative ease.
*This entry has been amended to reflect that he has never been on the podium in MotoGP
MotoGP standings standings after seven races
1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Honda 250 points
2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 230
3. Maverick Vinales (Spa) Honda 188
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 164
5. Chaz Davies (Wal) Ducati 121
6. Bradley Smith (GB) Yamaha 91
7. Alex Rins (Spa) Honda 50
8. Lorenzo Cain (Spa) Yamaha 53
9. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Honda 41
10. Andrea Iannone (Ita) Ducati 31
Nonito Donnarumma (ITA) Ducati 18
11. Johann Zarco (Fra) Honda 13
12. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 3