Marco Bezzecchi
Davide Tardozzi has been linked with a shock move away from Ducati by 2027, but things may not all be as they seem.
A recent report by Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Tardozzi could leave Ducati by 2027 amid rumours of an internal disagreement with Ducati chief Luigi Dall’Igna.
The pair allegedly were in conflict over the treatment of Francesco Bagnaia in the public eye during his struggles in 2025. Tardozzi had claimed that Ducati weren’t helping Bagnaia enough with the GP25, while Dall’Igna felt Bagnaia ‘failed’ despite numerous chances to improve.
Is replacing Davide Tardozzi at Ducati the right move?
Tardozzi’s comments were supposedly not well-received by Ducati, with rumours within the Borgo Panigale outfit suggesting that the team manager could be out of the team by the new regulations cycle in 2027.
Potential replacements have already cropped up, including Gino Borsoi and Francesco Guidotti. Ducati test rider Michelle Pirro would be open to replacing Tardozzi, but it will not happen anytime soon.
Davide Tardozzi is not set to leave Ducati, rumours of an ‘internal crisis’ and disagreements with Luigi Dall’Igna are false
A recent report from MOW has claimed that La Gazzetta’s report is ‘pure speculation’. According to them, Tardozzi is not set to leave Ducati.
The rumours about an ‘internal crisis’ at Ducati between the team manager and Dall’Igna appear to be wide of the mark and are not the reason why Tardozzi would consider leaving the team.
The report also suggests that a decision on Bagnaia’s future has not happened yet either. It was claimed that the two-time MotoGP champion’s fate with Ducati was already sealed, but he still has 2026 to fight for his seat.
Ultimately, as per MOW, ‘we know that Davide Tardozzi won’t leave Ducati’, especially not because of a rift between him and Dall’Igna.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Ducati from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
There is some truth to Davide Tardozzi’s Ducati exit rumours
While MOW has effectively debunked all rumours that Tardozzi is leaving Ducati, they do point to some truth in the previous reports.
Firstly, the Ducati chief’s age ‘is starting to become a burden’. Tardozzi is 66 years old, and travelling the world to 22 race weekends, as well as technical meetings and sponsor events, can take its toll.
What is also true is the links to Borsoi and him potentially replacing Tardozzi one day. The Pramac chief and Ducati have said ‘repeatedly’ that he could be the right man to lead the Borgo Panigale outfit and take the team manager’s place.
In the meantime, it seems that Tardozzi will stay at Ducati and all seems fine between him, Dall’Igna and Bagnaia. They will be hoping to improve the Italian’s fortunes in 2026 and secure another MotoGP championship.
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