Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia finally seemed to have found a solution to his Ducati crisis. But now his relationship seems more strained than ever.
Late last month, Bagnaia delivered a vintage weekend in Japan, converting pole in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. The dominant performance suggested that he and Ducati had at last worked out why he’d lost his way.
After what was unquestionably his best race of the year, Bagnaia may have produced his worst. 16th on the Indonesian GP grid, he finished a distant last in the Sprint and crashed out of the main race.
This comes amid apparent tension between Bagnaia and Ducati, with the two-time world champion refusing to answer questions about the specification of his bike. VR46 say he tested Franco Morbidelli’s year-old motorcycle at Misano before winning at Motegi, a claim Davide Tardozzi has denied.
Jorge Lorenzo says Francesco Bagnaia has nothing to ‘gain’ by leaving Ducati early
Bagnaia demanded an explanation from Ducati after what he called an ‘unacceptable’ showing in the Sprint. He said an unknown figure within the team was responsible for going in the wrong direction with his bike.
In a video on the Duralavita YouTube channel, Ruben Xaus asked Jorge Lorenzo whether Bagnaia would leave Ducati before the end of his contract in December 2026. Another of Italy’s marquee motorsport squads, Ferrari, famously split with F1 legend Alain Prost in 1991.
But Lorenzo can’t envisage a repeat here. He says there’s no logical reason for Bagnaia to walk away from the deal early.
“They won’t do what Ferrari did with Alain Prost in 1991 like they were saying in the Italian newspapers,” Lorenzo said. “I don’t think so. In my opinion, they’re not ending [the contract].
“What does Bagnaia gain by giving up? I don’t know how much he earns, and he gets to stay on the best bike. What do you gain by trading for an inferior bike and less money?
“If the rider doesn’t want [to continue], the contract ends. We are talking about a Ducati. The six Ducati riders go fast. He has a complete bike.
“What logic does it have? What does he gain by giving up his contract with the best bike on the grid?
Jorge Lorenzo wants to see Valentino Rossi offer more help to Pecco Bagnaia
It was also put to Lorenzo that Valentino Rossi should offer more assistance to VR46 academy graduate Bagnaia. The Spaniard agreed.
He says the ‘experience’ of Rossi would help Bagnaia ‘a lot’, though The Doctor must also juggle his own team, the other members of the academy and his Endurance racing commitments.
“I would like to see Valentino more involved,” Lorenzo said. “Bagnaia has been a member of VR46 for a long time, so he trains at the ranch and is part of the organisation.
“He is the rider who benefits the most because they manage him. The experience of Valentino, who is a very intelligent person with a lot of experience… in my opinion, having him alongside Bagnaia would help him a lot in managing these moments. I see a lot of logic in this idea.”
Looking to 2027, Bagnaia is under threat from Fermin Aldeguer, the Ducati-contracted rider who won his first Grand Prix as a rookie at Mandalika.
Bagnaia is Ducati’s most successful MotoGP rider with two world championships – Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez have contributed one apiece.
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