Francesco Bagnaia ‘must’ take a pay cut if he wants to keep his Ducati MotoGP seat for 2027

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Francesco Bagnaia wants to stay with the Ducati factory team despite his miserable and tense 2025 season. Like most of the field, the two-time MotoGP champion is out of contract at the end of next year.

Before the season had concluded, Bagnaia made it clear that he wanted a new deal. But despite his past success for the brand, he must now demonstrate that he is worthy of an extension.

Bagnaia won two Grands Prix and two Sprints in 2025 and scored a total of 15 podiums, as well as three pole positions. While he dropped to fifth in the standings (ending a 100% top-two record at the team), he did still outscore three of the other five Ducati riders.

But the problem is that Bagnaia failed to score in 18 out of 44 races, raising questions over whether Luigi Dall’Igna can trust him. His relationship with Ducati was clearly tested as the two parties offered differing explanations for the alarming slump.

Pecco Bagnaia will have to accept reduced terms to stay at Ducati

It’s no surprise that, as reported by Motorsport.com, Ducati’s priority is to keep world champion Marc Marquez. The other seat is a ‘secondary’ concern as doubts over Bagnaia persist at ‘every level’.

The Italian must satisfy two criteria if he’s to be offered a renewal. The first is, predictably, a ‘significant’ improvement in results.

Francesco Bagnaia failed to score points in 18 of his 44 races in 2025.

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But the second is a compromise on salary. Bagnaia ‘must’ take a pay cut, partly to free up more funds for the Marquez deal.

Ducati are aware that there’s a line of interested riders stretching ‘to the end of the paddock’. That strengthens their hand in negotiations.

How much does Francesco Bagnaia currently earn at Ducati?

Ducati could promote Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini if he progresses in his second season. Aldeguer has made clear that he sees himself wearing red in 2027.

But more recent reports suggest that Pedro Acosta is the favourite to replace Bagnaia if Ducati decide to make a change.

It’s believed that Bagnaia earns £6m at Ducati, rising to £8.5m with bonuses. That makes him one of the highest-paid riders on the grid.

In the event that he leaves Ducati, Bagnaia has been linked with Yamaha, who may require a replacement for their wantaway star Fabio Quartararo.