‘Very impressive’ MotoGP rider tells Ducati he shouldn’t replace Francesco Bagnaia in 2026

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Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati contract will be up for renewal next year. If his 2025 slump continues, then Luigi Dall’Igna will face one of the biggest dilemmas of his tenure.

At the start of the season, the idea of Bagnaia leaving Ducati was unthinkable. He’s the brand’s most successful rider in the MotoGP era, having won two world titles.

But Ducati have indicated both publicly and privately that they’re running out of patience with Bagnaia. They can’t abide this level of performance again in 2025.

Bagnaia remains third in the championship, but his plight is worsening. Since the summer break, his average qualifying and race positions are 12th and 11th respectively.

Fermin Aldeguer says now is ‘not the time’ for him to replace Francesco Bagnaia

Fermin Aldeguer is hoping to succeed Bagnaia eventually, though there will be multiple star riders targeting the potential vacancy. In an interview with MARCA, the Ducati-contracted youngster was asked whether he’d be ready to step up immediately.

Since the Spanish GP in April, Bagnaia has scored 117 points, just one more than Aldeguer. That means the rookie has virtually matched the multiple champion across 11 weekends.

Still, when asked if he’d be ready to step up immediately, Aldeguer said ‘it’s not the time’. He needs at least one more year at Gresini to hone his riding style and his mindset.

“Would I do well next year? Probably, but it’s not the time,” said the 20-year-old. “In 2027, maybe. It’s been two seasons, in a satellite team, where you make mistakes, you gain experience, you get results, and you get motivated and prepared to make that leap.

“[A 2026 Ducati move is] not going to happen either. I’m not going to think any further, and we’re just going to live in the present.”

Casey Stoner’s glowing review of Fermin Aldeguer may stick with Ducati

Some Ducati employees think Aldeguer can beat Marc Marquez in a straight fight. And they’re not necessarily talking about a pre-retirement version of the Ant of Cervera either.

Speaking after Aldeguer’s rider-of-the-day-winning performance at the Austrian GP, where he finished second, Casey Stoner was stunned.

Stoner said Aldeguer delivered the best race of the season by any rider with a ‘very impressive’ and ‘surprising’ charge from sixth on the grid. He started lapping six to seven-tenths faster than the bikes around him.

Aldeguer won’t ride a GP26 next year, as initially planned, after Ducati decided to offer it to Alex Marquez instead. He may be going up against his teammate in the race for the second factory seat if Bagnaia can’t find a way out of his crisis.