Ducati have set ‘fragile’ Francesco Bagnaia a deadline to prove he should get a new contract

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Francesco Bagnaia’s friction with Ducati in 2025 has sparked speculation about the two parties’ long-term future.

Bagnaia has had a torrid 2025 campaign as he has struggled to find feeling on the GP25. Meanwhile, Ducati teammate Marc Marquez has dominated the championship, winning the title at Motegi with 11 Grand Prix and 15 Sprint victories.

Ducati’s ride height is the root of Bagnaia’s problems in 2025, and the Borgo Panigale outfit have had difficulty finding solutions. The Italian tested parts from the GP24 at Misano, which led to his victory at Motegi, only to crash out from last at Mandalika a week later.

The two-time MotoGP champion has been despondent in media debriefs as he now insists that he has nothing more to prove. Bagnaia’s relationship with Ducati could be ‘untenable’ following those comments, as rumours begin to swirl about his future.

Francesco Bagnaia has the first three of four races of 2026 to convince Ducati he deserves a new contract

Ducati are ‘at the end of their rope’ with Bagnaia after his struggles at Mandalika overshadowed the team’s celebrations for winning the title. Marquez has dominated his teammate in 2025, and it has got the manufacturer thinking about their future plans.

Bagnaia has been linked with moves away from Borgo Panigale all season. Shock rumours about joining Yamaha were almost immediately shut down, while it has been suggested that Bagnaia could join VR46 as a way to solve his problems.

It seems that the Italian is more likely to leave Ducati than ever before as their relationship begins to crumble. A report from Motorsport Espana states that Bagnaia ‘will fulfil his commitment that ends at the end of 2026’.

Therefore, he has the last four races of 2025 and the ‘first three of four of next year’ to convince Ducati that he deserves a contract beyond 2026. With Marquez out for potentially 16 weeks follwing his crash in Indonesia, his teammate has an opportunity to finish this season on a high.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number

The 2026 MotoGP season is make-or-break for Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati

The 2026 season will mark a fresh start and a new opportunity for the No.63 rider. It could also be a much more successful campaign, given Ducati’s plan for next year’s bike.

The GP26 is set to be an ‘upgraded GP24’, with last year’s machine proving to be more competitive than the current spec. If that is true, Bagnaia will run out of excuses for poor results, having done so well with GP24 in 2024.

However, the Italian will face huge competition in 2026, as Alex Marquez will have factory machinery. The Gresini rider has consistently beaten him on year-old machinery in 2025 and will be a serious contender next year.

Furthermore, there is the obvious competition from Marc Marquez, who will be the firm favourite for the championship. Given his relationship with Ducati, one gets the feeling that Bagnaia will have to get closer to his teammate to stand any chance of landing a new contract.