Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia’s miserable 2025 campaign has prompted speculation about his long-term future with Ducati in MotoGP.
The Italian has been the Borgo Panigale outfit’s golden talent, having won them their first title since 2007 in 2022. Winning again in 2023, Bagnaia lost his MotoGP crown in 2024 to Jorge Martin, despite winning 11 out of 20 races.
The 28-year-old was eyeing a third title in 2025, but he has met his match with Marc Marquez. The Spaniard has dominated the season, wrapping up the title at Motegi, while Bagnaia has to settle for third, and even that is not guaranteed.
Bagnaia has struggled to adapt to the GP25 all season, finding no feeling from the new Desmosedici. Ducati have worked hard to give the Italian the tools he needs to win, with Bagnaia testing GP24 parts at Misano.
This led to pole position and a double victory at Motegi, but just a week later, he was struggling in last at Mandalika. After what was his worst weekend of the season, tensions are starting to build between Bagnaia and Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia is ‘now no longer in pole position’ on ‘all MotoGP manufacturers’ wish lists
Bagnaia says Ducati is his ‘family’; his problems in 2025 do not seem to have changed his stance on the team. However, that may not be reciprocated with the Borgo Panigale outfit, who are starting to lose patience with the two-time MotoGP champion.
Indeed, Ducati are ‘at the end of their rope’ with Bagnaia, with rumours speculating throughout 2025 that the two parties could part ways. Bagnaia was linked with a shock move to Yamaha earlier in the year, but Ducati quickly shut that down.
Now, with tension at an all-time high, a split seems more likely. It has even been mentioned that the Italian could leave Ducati before 2026, but Jorge Lorenzo says Bagnaia has nothing to ‘gain’ from doing that.
Furthermore, it seems that the Italian’s stock has gone down on the MotoGP rider market. According to a report from Speedweek, Bagnaia is ‘now no longer in pole position’ on ‘all’ manufacturers’ wish lists for the future – his options are limited if he chooses to leave Ducati.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
What are Francesco Bagnaia’s realistic alternatives to Ducati?
With Bagnaia unlikely to break his contract, he has until next season to improve his form at the Borgo Panigale outfit. In theory, that is what should happen, as Ducati’s GP26 will be an ‘upgraded’ GP24.
If Bagnaia fails next season with that bike, it will be hard to pin the blame on Ducati. It would add fuel to the fire that the two parties will part ways after the current contract cycle.
Carlo Pernat thinks Ducati should swap Bagnaia with Jorge Martin at Aprilia, but that is unlikely to be feasible, given the Spaniard’s exit from the Borgo Panigale outfit in 2024. Yamaha could have an opening in 2027 if Fabio Quartararo decides to move on from the V4 project.
If he were to leave Ducati early, Bagnaia’s ‘only alternative’ is VR46. His mentor Valentino Rossi would likely welcome a move to his team.
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