‘Everyone’ in the MotoGP paddock is now wondering ‘what on Earth’ Ducati have said to Pecco Bagnaia

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Ducati are at the centre of controversy at the Indonesian Grand Prix. Francesco Bagnaia’s comments in his Friday debrief suggest his relationship with the team has been tested.

Coming into the weekend, there were strong rumours that Bagnaia tested Franco Morbidelli’s GP24 at Misano last month. This preceded an extraordinary Japanese GP resurgence, with the two-time world champion sweeping the weekend.

It may be that Bagnaia was using as many as 2024 parts as permitted at Motegi, but for whatever reason, Ducati took a ‘vow of silence’. Unfortunately, the veil of secrecy slipped on Friday when Uccio Salucci of VR46 confirmed that Morbidelli’s bike had indeed been rebadged in Emilia Romagna.

After the practice sessions, Bagnaia told The Race to direct their questions on the matter to Luigi Dall’Igna and Ducati’s communications team.

“I’m just saying what people are telling me to say,” he pointedly remarked.

Francesco Bagnaia’s blunt debrief raises questions over Ducati relationship

According to Simon Patterson, Bagnaia is coming up in ‘most conversations’ in the Indonesian Grand Prix paddock right now. ‘Pretty much everyone’ is saying the same thing.

People outside Ducati are wondering ‘what on Earth’ they’re ‘playing at’ with one of their biggest legends. It seems there’s a ‘new impasse’ in the relationship, with firm restrictions in place.

Dorna reporter Jack Appleyard suggested on Thursday that Bagnaia had given Ducati an ‘ultimatum’ at Misano before they agreed to let him test the year-old bike. It’s been claimed that Dall’Igna’s ‘ego’ prevented the GP24 being used sooner.

Less than a week after Marc Marquez sealed the world championship, and with Ducati closing in on a title sweep, the team’s image is being somewhat tarnished.

What Franco Morbidelli has said about Pecco Bagnaia testing his bike

Inevitably, Morbidelli himself was asked to comment on the story when he spoke to outlets including GPOne. He tried to play it down.

“[It was] very good,” he said. “Ducati asked us and we put all of our resources to the best of our ability. It wasn’t a big deal.

“I think Pecco needed some confirmation on what he was doing, on whether the GP24 was giving him a better feeling overall. That’s what he needed, that’s what he asked of us. We’re happy to help.”

When asked what feedback Bagnaia had given after the test, Morbidelli refused to answer out of respect for his fellow countryman.

“We’d have to ask him,” he said. “If he doesn’t want to talk about it, I won’t either.”

Bagnaia criticised Michelin’s tyre changes as both factory Ducati riders failed to make the top 10 on Friday. That means they’ll have to go through Q1.