Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati star Francesco Bagnaia arrived at the Dutch Grand Prix at the TT Circuit Assen in round 10 of the 2025 season still striving to spark some life into a bleak campaign.
The 28-year-old has endured a miserable season so far, even beyond his 110-point deficit to Ducati teammate Marc Marquez in the riders’ championship. Bagnaia would still not top the table without the Spaniard, as Alex Marquez of Gresini has outscored him so far this season.
Marc Marquez leads the way ahead of the Dutch GP at Assen with 270 points, heading Alex on 230 and Bagnaia on 160. Even VR46 duo Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio sit closer to Bagnaia in the championship with 128 and 120 points than he is to the Marquezes.
Bagnaia won the Americas Grand Prix after Marc Marquez crashed out from the lead for his sole win so far this year, as well. The 32-year-old Spaniard, in contrast, went to Assen on the back of winning the Italian Grand Prix for the first time since 2014, plus the Mugello Sprint.
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi is ‘sure’ Yamaha want to sign Francesco Bagnaia
Marquez winning five of the first nine Grands Prix, plus eight Sprint Races, to start the 2025 MotoGP season has also sparked suggestions that Yamaha want to sign Bagnaia for as early as 2026. But the Turin native has straight up ruled out breaking his contract for next season.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi is not surprised that their Iwata rivals would want to sign the 2022 and 2023 champion, and is also happy about it. Yamaha view Bagnaia as their forbidden dream, which delights Tardozzi as it shows the quality of the rider Ducati employ.
Tardozzi does not expect to see Bagnaia leave Ducati for Yamaha, though, given the Italian is loyal to his word and the contracts he signs. The Bologna Bullets chief even goes as far as to brand the recent photoshopped images showing Bagnaia wearing Yamaha leathers ‘a hoax’.
“A hoax,” Tardozzi has outlined to Benzine. “To look even more for a very simple reason, for the intellectual honesty of Pecco. Because Pecco says, ‘I signed a contract and I respect it’, because Pecco is a real person. He is a person who, when he signs something, he finishes it.
“And then Pecco, leave this moment of difficulty alone, is fine with us [and] we are fine with him. So, there is absolutely nothing true. That Yamaha want Pecco, of course they do! I am sure of it. And this does us even more honour because it means that we have a great rider.”
Francesco Bagnaia has publicly refuted suggestions he could leave Ducati for Yamaha
Yamaha are thought to be paying very close attention to Bagnaia’s situation at Ducati in case the Italian decides to break out of his contract, having been dominated so often by Marquez this year. Bagnaia has a £6m a year contract at Ducati, which is set to end after next season.
But Bagnaia would have to go back on his word to quit Ducati for Yamaha. He publicly stated when Jorge Martin confirmed his intentions to leave Aprilia halfway through a two-year deal that Bagnaia is firmly against a rider breaking out of their contract and should honour them.
Still, there have also been reports that Aprilia could have a chance to sign Bagnaia to replace Martin as his plight aboard the Ducati GP25 this season continues. The Noale factory are still intent on keeping Martin on the RS-GP, but have also studied possible signings for next term.
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