Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati ace Francesco Bagnaia was the first rider to crash during the 2025 post-season test in Valencia this Tuesday, but team boss Davide Tardozzi finished the day “happy”.
The MotoGP field stayed at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo after the 2025 Valencia Grand Prix for a one-day test looking ahead to 2026. It also offered Bagnaia a great chance to try to put his miserable 2025 season in the rear-view mirror as soon as possible before the winter break.
Rain drenching the circuit on Monday afternoon meant the morning session was a write-off, as riders and teams proved reluctant to circulate given the poor track conditions. But Ducati were, eventually, able to trial their 2026-spec aero package after a red flag to dry the circuit.
Bagnaia and Gresini ace Alex Marquez, who will join Pecco, Marc Marquez and VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio in having a factory Desmosedici in the 2026 MotoGP season, got to test the Borgo Panigale crew’s new aero package featuring a new side fairing compared to the GP25.
Davide Tardozzi feels Francesco Bagnaia’s Valencia test pace proved he has ‘found his way’
Bagnaia needs to show Ducati a clear improvement in 2026 to save his position in the works team, as the 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of next term. This season proved to be a nightmare for the Italian, as he only secured 288 points while Marc won the title with 545.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Team manager Tardozzi admitted that Ducati ran out of answers to help Bagnaia in 2025, as well, as they had tried “everything” to help the Turin native adapt to the GP25. So, Bagnaia pleased Tardozzi after he showed some promising pace during the Valencia test on Tuesday.
“It seems that his time is not so bad,” Tardozzi told the MotoGP world feed (18/11, 15:47). “Unfortunately, he crashed, but he was trying to have a fast lap. But I think Pecco has found his way again, because he’s there. So, we’re happy.”
Pecco Bagnaia had ‘too much’ confidence on Ducati’s bike when he crashed during the Valencia test
Tardozzi discussed Bagnaia’s efforts during the Valencia test soon after he became the first rider to crash this Tuesday, having crashed at Turn 2 with 43 minutes remaining. The two-time champion’s best lap at that moment was a 1:29.731 for P9, 0.358s off the fastest time.
Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez was and stayed atop the standings with a 1:29.373. Nicolo Bulega, who replaced Marc Marquez during the final two rounds of 2025 and will be a Ducati test rider in 2026, had also set a faster lap time than Bagnaia’s best time by 0.070s.
Tardozzi saw a positive sign from Bagnaia’s crash, as it proved the 2022 and 2023 champion was “confident” on Ducati’s 2026 bike. Tardozzi had recently suggested that Bagnaia had a “lack of trust” with Ducati’s 2025 bike, having struggled with how it handled under braking.
Tardozzi added: “We all know it’s been a very tough year for him. But we were confident that during the test that he was going to find something, and he did. He’s there with all the other Ducatis and the top guys.
“I think this crash was because he was confident, too much confident, in his bike, and he was trying to have a very fast lap. Anyway, we’re happy about his feedback of the day and of the speed.”
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