Francesco Bagnaia ‘relieved’ after solving ‘important’ Ducati GP26 issue during testing

Add as preferred source on Google

Francesco Bagnaia left the opening pre-season test of 2026 in Sepang a happy man, as the Ducati ace was able to improve one of the issues he realised after a bleak 2025.

Last year ended on an extremely sour note for the 29-year-old, as he dropped to a miserable fifth place in the riders’ standings. Bagnaia had ranked in the top two of the championship in each of the previous four seasons, and also won the title during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Bagnaia admits he “could have done more” in 2025 to adapt to his Ducati GP25 after looking back at the problems he endured last year. Those problems also now look set to cost him his place in the Bologna Bullets’ works crew, with Ducati looking set to sign KTM’s Pedro Acosta.

Ducati’s attempts to acquire Acosta for once his contract with KTM expires looks likely to be sorted before Bagnaia has a chance to avenge his struggles from last year. The Turin native may have also already solved one of the problems that plagued him during the 2025 season.

Francesco Bagnaia is ‘more than relieved’ to improve his one-lap pace at the Sepang test

Bagnaia finished the first pre-season test of the 2026 MotoGP season in Sepang earlier this month feeling “more than relieved”. The Ducati racer believes he can “push a little harder” with the GP26 than he could the GP25, as he has more trust in how the front end will react.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number

But above all, the biggest positive to come out of the Sepang test for Bagnaia was improving his one-lap speed. While Bagnaia scored pole for the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang last October and won the Sprint Race, he often struggled to find speed on a single flying lap.

Bagnaia said, via quotes by Motorsport.com: “It’s not that I didn’t have bad feelings with the GP25, let’s just say I had a love-hate relationship with it, but only for a few races.

“We only had a negative phase midway through the championship due to several problems, including a few too many crashes, because overall last season was very good, in my opinion.

“This bike, at least at first glance, allows me to push a little harder. This test was also important for me to improve my one-lap pace, and I think we worked well. More than relieved, I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time.”

Pecco Bagnaia qualified P8.1 on average over the final seven rounds in 2025

Has Francesco Bagnaia found the key to fighting for the 2026 MotoGP title?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Bagnaia only took a total of three pole positions in 2025, despite his Ducati teammate Marc Marquez taking eight. Additionally, Bagnaia only secured pole for the 2025 Czech Grand Prix after Marquez crashed during Q2 at Brno while the Spaniard was on a quicker lap than him.

Ducati had to wait until round 17 in Japan to see Bagnaia score a pole position on merit last year. Motegi also marked the venue for Bagnaia’s first win on merit in 2025, having secured the victory in America during round three after Marquez crashed out from the lead at COTA.

Despite Bagnaia’s poles in Japan and Malaysia, he also only qualified P8.1 on average across the final seven rounds of the 2025 season. The Italian delivered miserable qualifying outings in Indonesia and Valencia, as he bowed out during Q1 for P16 on the grid for the two races.

Bagnaia will be extremely loath to repeat his sorry showings during qualifying towards the end of the 2025 season in 2026. So, leaving the first pre-season test of 2026 in Sepang with an improved feeling for the front end of the Ducati GP26 will certainly encourage Bagnaia.