Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia’s struggles were at the forefront of the 2025 MotoGP narrative, and one Ducati employee has come out and admitted that the Italian constructor ‘lost a battle’ with the two-time world champion.
The 2025 MotoGP campaign marked a stark turning point in the MotoGP career of Francesco Bagnaia.
After competing for the title in all four of his previous years with the factory outfit, the Italian rider undeniably suffered the wrath of the GP25, while Marc Marquez returned to his finest form on top of it.
Ducati had tried enlisting the help of everyone in the phonebook, including Casey Stoner, but nothing seemed to get him out of the rut that he was experiencing for longer than a solitary race weekend at Motegi.
His future at Borgo Panigale has now been thrown into question, but the constructor’s rider coach is optimistic for the upcoming campaign.
Francesco Bagnaia will finish … in the MotoGP championship in 2026
Manuel Poggiali admits that Ducati ‘lost a battle’ with Francesco Bagnaia in 2025
During an appearance on the Mig Babol podcast, Ducati rider coach Manuel Poggiali spoke about the seasons of Marquez and Bagnaia in 2025, highlighting the woes the latter had experienced.
Poggiali said, “This year obviously has been a very important season. Marc’s victory was very emotional, partly because of the difficulties he had, partly because of how he behaved, relaunched and how he won this season.
“With Pecco, there’s nothing to say. In short, it wasn’t a season in line with expectations or ambitions, but it’s a season that mustn’t make us lose sight of the fact that we still have two extraordinary riders.
“Two riders who can potentially finish first and second, fighting for the win in every race. This must be the fundamental basis that must not make us lose motivation.
“As always, you have to work to make things work, you have to commit yourself daily, you have to find those solutions or make those changes that allow you to take a stable step, that step that allows you to always be competitive.
“This is perhaps what we lacked this year, but we haven’t lost the war, in the sense that we lost a battle, we lost a year with Pecco, but fortunately, we have a way to make up for it in the new year.”
- READ MORE: Marc Marquez forced Luigi Dall’Igna into a Ducati change that left Francesco Bagnaia ‘very lonely’
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Joining a Ducati satellite team is ‘out of the question’ for Francesco Bagnaia
With his status within the ranks at Ducati currently at an all-time low, Bagnaia may find himself laying roots somewhere other than Borgo Panigale at the expiration of his contract ahead of 2027.
Bagnaia is adamant that he won’t settle for a Ducati satellite ride, with Aprilia emerging as a potential candidate to take him on board if a factory offer isn’t available.
Fermin Aldeguer is currently best positioned to take the Italian’s seat at the team. The Murcian native signed a factory deal with Ducati ahead of his move up to the premier class, and is currently waiting for Borgo Panigale to own up to their end of the deal.
Bagnaia has been told to return to his once ‘really angry’ state in order to save his career at the Italian constructor.
Previously a two-time world champion in red, it’s clear that the bike that was given to him wasn’t a good fit for his particular riding style.
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