Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia endured yet another disappointing weekend in the 2025 MotoGP season at the Czech Grand Prix, as the Ducati star could only score 16 points at Brno.
The 28-year-old now finds himself a whopping 168 points behind his Ducati teammate Marc Marquez in the riders’ championship, with Alex Marquez of Gresini even 48 clear of Bagnaia after 12 rounds. Aprilia ace Marco Bezzecchi is also now only 57 points behind him in fourth.
Even KTM rider Pedro Acosta scored his first podium finishes of the 2025 MotoGP season at Brno with P2 in the Sprint and P3 in the first Czech GP since 2020. Bagnaia took pole for the Czech GP after Marquez crashed in Q2, but earned P7 in the Sprint and P4 in the Grand Prix.
An electronic glitch with his Ducati GP25 incorrectly gave Bagnaia a tyre pressure warning in the Czech Sprint that helped create his struggles, having been 1.235s behind Marquez when his dashboard illuminated on Lap 5 of 10. But he would not respond in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Ducati ‘seen’ speaking to VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio over a 2027 factory move
The Czech GP weekend thus marked the third time this term that Bagnaia has failed to finish on the podium in a Sprint Race and the Grand Prix after the French GP and British GP. It may also be putting some doubts in Ducati’s mind about his long-term position in Borgo Panigale.
According to AS, representatives of Ducati have ‘been seen’ speaking to VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio about a potential promotion into their factory line-up. Any move is unlikely to materialise before 2027 with Bagnaia, Marquez and Di Giannantonio all tied down for 2026.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
The trio all boast factory Ducati contracts along with Gresini rookie Fermin Aldeguer, who is also tied down through 2026. But discussions are already underway about the 2027 season, as teams look ahead to the next era when MotoGP introduces 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres.
Di Giannantonio is at least in the mix to move to Borgo Panigale if Ducati decide to make any changes to their line-up for 2027. His promotion might also see VR46 field a completely new line-up in 2027, as Valentino Rossi’s crew are not against replacing Franco Morbidelli as well.
VR46 are currently in talks with Morbidelli about a new contract for 2026, as the 30-year-old only joined them this term on a one-year deal. But VR46 do not intend to commit to him for 2027, at least not yet, as VR46 still see Acosta as a priority signing should he ever quit KTM.
Ducati boss Luigi Dall’Igna is a big fan of the ‘outstanding’ Fabio Di Giannantonio
Di Giannantonio had a Czech GP weekend to forget to a worse extent than Bagnaia did, after the 26-year-old failed to get a single point at Brno. A clutch issue hindered Di Giannantonio’s efforts in the Brno Sprint before he also crashed, and he only managed P17 in the Czech GP.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Di Giannantonio from net worth to AS Roma
The Czech GP also followed a sorry end to his time at the Sachsenring, after Di Giannantonio crashed out of P2 in the German Grand Prix. But there have been some highs to his term, as the Roman earned P3 during the Americas Grand Prix and also during the Italian Grand Prix.
Di Giannantonio’s podium in Texas also saw Ducati general manager Luigi Dall’Igna describe his showing as ‘outstanding’ after a ‘dogged race conducted with talent and determination’. It marked Di Giannantonio’s first podium since he joined VR46 ahead of the 2024 campaign.
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