Marco Bezzecchi
Franco Morbidelli might be in for a challenging 2026 MotoGP season as he steps onto Ducati’s 2025 bike, a machine that caused huge controversy last year.
The VR46 rider has ridden the GP24 for the last two seasons. The bike is arguably one of the best MotoGP machines ever made, having won 16 of 20 races in 2024, yet Morbidelli never won with it.
With just two podiums in 2025, the Italian struggled for consistency, but did enough to secure his spot on the grid in 2026. That comes with its problems, however, as Morbidelli moves up to the GP25.
Predict the order of the Ducati riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Last year’s Desmosedici was a contentious topic in 2025, as the Ducati riders, besides Marc Marquez, could not adapt to it. Francesco Bagnaia blasted the bike on numerous occasions and eventually implemented GP24 parts at the end of the season.
Morbidelli’s VR46 teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio suffered the same issues as Bagnaia, as they struggled in braking and corner entry. This would have the 31-year-old worried ahead of 2026, and he has found out why the bike was so hated.
Franco Morbidelli realises why Francesco Bagnaia hated Ducati’s 2025 bike after ‘lost’ verdict in Malaysia
Morbidelli’s crew chief suggested he would ride the GP24 this season, but judging by his interviews at Sepang, it would appear that he tested the GP25.
Morbidelli was not worried about riding the 2025 bike amid Bagnaia’s complaints last year. But as reporter Jack Appleyard noted on After The Flag, the VR46 rider may have realised why he hated the machine as he felt ‘lost’ on the soft tyre.
“He gave a very GP25 interview yesterday where he said: ‘In the morning, I felt super comfortable’, because he was using the medium rear tyre,” said Appleyard.
“He was 2.5 seconds adrift of what a good lap time is around here, as everyone was in the morning on the tyres that don’t often perform.
“And then he said: ‘In the afternoon, we put in the soft tyre and I was lost, I had no feeling whatsoever, I didn’t know what the front was going to do’.
“It’s like we put on an interview from Fabio Di Giannantonio or Pecco Bagnaia from last year. I’m sure Frankie has quickly, in the space of two days, one and a half days if you count it after the rain, has gone: ‘Ah, OK, that’s what Pecco was talking about.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Franco Morbidelli from net worth to career stats
Franco Morbidelli cannot afford to struggle in 2026
If Morbidelli does end up riding the GP25 in 2026, it could be a tough season for the VR46 rider and one that he cannot afford to have.
Last year’s Ducati had not many differences to the GP24, yet Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio struggled immensely. The issue is that the Borgo Panigale outfit does not seem to have answers, as Davide Tardozzi was at a loss to explain Bagnaia’s troubles.
Marquez was seen testing the 2024 aero at Sepang, which would suggest that Ducati are still trying to improve on the GP24, rather than look at the GP25 spec. If Morbidelli is riding that bike, he could be in trouble.
The Italian needs to have a decent year as his future in the sport is uncertain. Reports have suggested that VR46 will drop Morbidelli in 2026 as Valentino Rossi plans to sign two new riders in 2027.
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