Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia endured a nightmare throughout the 2025 MotoGP season, which has even left his future at Ducati in doubt now ahead of the final year of his contract.
The 28-year-old is the spirit of a Ducati man and has represented the Borgo Panigale squad since his MotoGP debut for Pramac in 2019. Bagnaia has always had a works Ducati contract during his time in the premier class, and he has also raced for their factory entry since 2021.
But the deal that Bagnaia and Ducati agreed on back in March 2024 is due to expire in 2026. The Italian also goes into the 2025 winter break after his worst term since the 2020 MotoGP season, having finished the campaign only fifth in the riders’ championship with 288 points.
Bagnaia also only scored two Grand Prix and two Sprint Race wins in the 22 rounds of 2025, which further yielded just eight Grand Prix podiums and three pole positions. He also failed to finish six of the final seven Grands Prix and took points in three of the final seven Sprints.
Francesco Bagnaia’s new Ducati contract would be a ‘done deal’ if he is quick in pre-season
Bagnaia’s Motegi Sprint and Japanese Grand Prix double win during round 17 in September proved to be an odd result for the Turin native at the end of 2025, in a drastic change from the past four years. He fought for every title from 2021 to ‘24, and he won it in ‘22 and ‘23.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Francesco Bagnaia on his MotoGP future
Now, his future in Borgo Panigale will be on the line in the 2026 season. It is said that KTM’s Pedro Acosta is in a dominant position to replace Bagnaia in 2027 if Ducati decide to release him. But Bagnaia still has plenty of time to show Ducati that his future deserves to be in red.
Simon Patterson notes on The Race’s MotoGP podcast that Bagnaia securing a new contract with Ducati for 2027 would even be a “done deal” if he can show signs that the Pecco of old is back during pre-season testing in 2026. Bagnaia would jump at the chance for a new deal.
“If Pecco Bagnaia’s offered a Ducati extension, he takes it straight away,” Patterson said. “If he goes to pre-season testing and he’s immediately the old Pecco again and five seconds quicker than everyone else, it’s a done deal.”
Bagnaia will head to Sepang for the first 2026 pre-season test on February 4-5, with the 28-year-old not able to feature in the Shakedown Test at the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix on January 29-31. Buriram will host the second and final pre-season test on February 21-22.
Marc Marquez will only leave Ducati if Honda ‘really, really, really want him’ in 2027
Bagnaia’s future is also not the only topic that Ducati will have to monitor through the 2026 MotoGP season. Marc Marquez is also set to be out of contract with Ducati after the end of next year, having only moved to Borgo Panigale at the start of 2025 on a two-year contract.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend
What would you change on our dream 2027 grid?
But Patterson believes Ducati are only truly at risk of losing Marquez if Honda “really, really, really” try to re-sign the Spaniard. The 32-year-old left Honda at the end of 2023 to get on a Ducati at Gresini, which ultimately laid a path for him to join the works Ducati crew in 2025.
“There’s a certain element of brand loyalty to some riders that makes them not quite free agents,” Patterson added. “I think Marc Marquez is only a free agent if Honda really, really, really want him.
“There’s nothing else. He’s not going to Aprilia, he’s not going to Yamaha. So, your number one free agents are Acosta, [Fabio] Quartararo and [Jorge] Martin.”
Marquez dominated the 2025 MotoGP season with Ducati to win his first title since securing the 2019 crown for Honda. The Cervera native scored 545 points, 11 Grand Prix wins and 14 Sprint wins over the 18 rounds he entered before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Ducati paused their negotiations with Marquez about a new contract following his injury in October, yet they are expected to resume talks with the seven-time champion’s camp soon.
But team manager Alberto Puig has claimed Marquez re-joining Honda would be a “dream”.
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