Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia is the most successful VR46 Riders Academy product to date, but his future with Ducati is far from certain after his disappointing 2025 MotoGP season.
The 29-year-old had fought for the title during each of his first four seasons with Ducati, and he also won the championship in 2022 and 2023. But Bagnaia fell far from his perch in 2025, as the Italian only managed to secure fifth place in the riders’ standings with just 288 points.
It is even said that Ducati have already decided to release Bagnaia when his contract expires at the end of 2026, as his fifth place in the 2025 standings was their final straw. Ducati’s ride height device troubled Bagnaia, who did not finish six of the final seven Grands Prix in 2025.
Prove me wrong: Francesco Bagnaia’s confidence is the first thing he must improve
Valentino Rossi would want Francesco Bagnaia to commit to VR46 before the 2026 season
Given Bagnaia’s status as the most successful VR46 product, Motorsport-Magazin notes the team could act as his ‘safety net’ should Ducati release him. A switch to the VR46 team next year would also become more possible if Bagnaia suffers another frustrating season in 2026.
READ MORE: The best moments of Francesco Bagnaia’s MotoGP career
Bagnaia is fighting to show Ducati that he deserves a new contract and the chance to guide them into the 2027 MotoGP regulations era. A strong 2026 could also draw rival offers, but VR46 would potentially give Bagnaia a chance to ‘redeem himself’ in 2027 if he flops again.
Yet Valentino Rossi could put a hurdle in Bagnaia’s route to VR46 before the plan even gains any momentum. Rossi says he knows VR46’s 2027 line-up but “can’t say” who will race with his crew, and he is understood to be working on finalising contracts before the 2026 season.
Rossi does not want to wait to see how riders perform over the first few rounds of the 2026 season before he finalises VR46’s 2027 line-up. So, Bagnaia would need to commit to VR46 now if he is to seal a ride with Rossi’s crew, or hope that his form in 2026 draws rival offers.
Francesco Bagnaia has interest from the Aprilia, Honda and Yamaha factory teams
As it stands, it would remain to be seen whether Bagnaia would consider an offer from Rossi to join VR46 in 2027 if Ducati do release him. It is said that Bagnaia currently has no interest in joining a satellite MotoGP team in 2027, even if it meant he remained in the Ducati ranks.
Francesco Bagnaia will finish … in the MotoGP championship in 2026
Factory offers are currently possible, pending the performances that the Turin native is able to produce in 2026. Massimo Rivola has confirmed that Bagnaia is “tempting” for Aprilia, as he fully expects Ducati to drop him and partner Marc Marquez with Pedro Acosta next term.
Additionally, reports suggest that Honda and Yamaha are interested in Bagnaia for the 2027 season, with both Japanese brands able to offer factory rides. Honda’s Luca Marini and Joan Mir plus Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins are all out of contract at the end of 2026.
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