Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia has admitted that Ducati no longer have the fastest bike in MotoGP after they suffered a torrid Thailand Grand Prix.
The Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer have dominated MotoGP since the turn of the decade, winning every title since 2020 and every riders’ championship since 2022. They had a streak of 88 races of at least one rider on the podium, but that came to an abrupt halt this weekend.
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Ducati did not have the edge over the competition at the Thailand Grand Prix, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming pole position for Aprilia. Pedro Acosta beat Marc Marquez for the Sprint victory after a controversial late penalty for the defending champion.
On Sunday, the Ducati riders were outclassed by Aprilia, as Bezzecchi clinched a commanding victory in Thailand. All four of the Noale manufacturer’s riders finished in the top five, with Fabio Di Giannantonio being the highest-finishing Ducati in P6.
Francesco Bagnaia says Ducati are not the fastest ‘anymore’ after Thailand Grand Prix
Diggia’s VR46 teammate, Franco Morbidelli, was eighth in Buriram, passing Bagnaia in the closing stages. It was a difficult weekend for the factory Ducati rider, after he failed to reach Q2, a regular occurrence last season.
It got worse for the Borgo Panigale outfit as the Marquez brothers both retired from the race in the closing stages. Marc Marquez suffered a rear tyre puncture on lap 21, while Alex Marquez crashed heavily moments later.
The incidents moved Bagnaia to P7, but he was soon swamped by Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura, who completed a late charge to finish fifth. Morbidelli passed the factory Ducati rider in the final moments to end a miserable weekend for the Italian.
Aprilia have clearly taken a step forward in 2026, with no Ducati riders present on the podium. During his post-race media session, Bagnaia said, via journalist Neil Morrison, that: “‘We (Ducati) are not anymore the fastest.’
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The Ducati rider struggled to find any performance throughout the weekend in Buriram. Sylvain Guintoli thinks Bagnaia cannot deliver under ‘pressure’ as he suffered another early qualifying exit and could not make up much ground in either race.
The pace difference between the Desmosedicis and the RS-GPs was noticeable, as the latter looked much more stable, not to mention faster, on Sunday.
Has Ducati’s dominance in MotoGP finally come to an end?
The irony of it all is that from 2027, Bagnaia will join Aprilia on a multi-year contract, partnering with Thailand GP race winner Bezzecchi.
Of course, next season’s rules and bikes will be significantly different to this year. But if the Thailand GP is anything to go by, Bagnaia will certainly be happy with the choice he has made for 2027, as Aprilia are really taking the fight to Ducati.
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