Marco Bezzecchi
With just two rounds left of Francesco Bagnaia’s rollercoaster of a 2025 MotoGP season, Ducati reserve rider Michele Pirro has shared whether the Italian rider can hit the ground running next year and challenge the elusive Marc Marquez.
Marquez’s maiden season as a rider for the factory Ducati outfit has been marked by the sheer form of dominance that the Spaniard has shown against his on-track rivals.
MotoGP fans thought Bagnaia and Marquez would butt heads following the announcement that the now seven-time premier class title-winner would be joining him in Borgo Panigale, but they have been left disappointed due to the struggles that the 28-year-old has experienced.
Only two more rounds of racing are left for the Italian rider to finish the season on a high before full attention is switched to the upcoming 2026 MotoGP campaign.
Michele Pirro shares his verdict on whether Francesco Bagnaia will return to full form next season
Engineers at Ducati have faced a season-long headache with trying to figure out why the two-time MotoGP champion isn’t able to replicate the results of his high-flying teammate atop the same spec of machinery.
Bagnaia has been ‘demoralised’ by Marquez’s superiority with the GP25 this year, but that doesn’t resolve the fact that he just hasn’t been able to find a rhythm throughout the current term and record some consistently impressive results.
However, speaking to GPOne ahead of the upcoming Portuguese Grand Prix, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro shared his current sentiments on the 28-year-old’s return to top form during the final year of Bagnaia’s Ducati contract in 2026.
He said, “The best thing will be to see Pecco strong and competitive again in the season finale. Racing teaches that things change every year, and I don’t think Bagnaia will carry over the problems of 2025.
“You have to try to handle bad situations. Pecco is a great guy who can bring out the best in every situation. He can go back to being the Pecco we all know, able to battle in the races with Marc.
“I’d like to remind you that Bagnaia has only suffered in the last few races, since he was always competitive in the first part of the season.”
In a stark change of tune, Luigi Dall’Igna admitted that Bagnaia’s assessment of the GP25 was correct after all.
The engineer was adamant that it was not much different from its predecessor, the GP24, but recently conceded that there are, in fact, a number of differences.
READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia may soon have the perfect opportunity to leave Ducati and revive his MotoGP career
Francesco Bagnaia is hoping that he has far fewer ‘problems’ next season with Ducati in MotoGP
With his immediate aim being to finish the current season on a high note, Bagnaia naturally has his sights set on what he can achieve when starting from a clean slate again next season.
He is currently five points adrift of Marco Bezzecchi in the MotoGP standings in the battle for third place, something that Ducati are hoping that Bagnaia can achieve, given recent results that suggest he is on his way back to the top.
During his Thursday afternoon media duties at the upcoming Portuguese Grand Prix, the 28-year-old was asked about his feelings regarding the current campaign and his hopes for the upcoming one.
Bagnaia replied, via Motorsport.com, “This has been the most difficult year I’ve had. I hope next year won’t have even a third of the problems of this one, and that everything will work out well.”
Another season in the same vein as the current term could have disastrous consequences for his future in MotoGP.
With his contract at the factory outfit up at the end of 2026, Bagnaia’s stock at rival MotoGP brands has already taken a hit due to his struggles this year, and will no doubt have an even higher detrimental effect if it continues.
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