Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia’s tenure at Ducati will come to an end at the end of 2026, but Davide Tardozzi is refusing to say they have parted on bad terms.
The Italian rider has been with Ducati since he joined MotoGP in 2019. Joining the factory team in 2021, he is still the only rider to win multiple world championships with the Bologna Bullets.
But in 2025, following the arrival of Marc Marquez, the two-time MotoGP champion started struggling with the bike, complaining about a lack of feeling. Ducati could not find an answer to his problems, with Bagnaia finishing P5 in the standings, retiring from six of the last seven races.
Who will regret this split more, Francesco Bagnaia or Ducati?
Davide Tardozzi ‘rejects’ the claim that Ducati are disowning Francesco Bagnaia
The No.63 rider started to notice a shift in the attitude around Ducati after he won at Motegi last year. Tardozzi could not explain Bagnaia’s struggles and ran out of ideas to help him, which started to signify the end of their relationship.
Casey Stoner predicted Bagnaia would be replaced at the height of his struggles. He has now been proven correct, as Ducati have not offered him a contract for 2027, opting to sign KTM’s Pedro Acosta alongside Marquez instead.
Bagnaia will join Aprilia on a four-year deal next year, marking the start of a new and exciting project for the Italian. Tardozzi says Bagnaia’s exit is best for both parties, but he refuses to say that Ducati are disowning him.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
He told GPOne: “I like to talk about this. This is Pecco’s eighth year with Ducati. He has given so much to Ducati; we must always remember that.
“Two world titles, two runner-up finishes, 31 wins, 28 pole positions, 63 podiums, and these numbers aren’t final, because we still have half a season left. All of this can only make us look at Pecco with satisfaction and pride.
“Then there are moments in a rider’s life when it’s best to part ways, but in the right way, as is happening now. As Vergani says, to whom I send a big hug, every problem is also an opportunity.
Predict the podium at the German Grand Prix this weekend 🔮
“Pecco will find a highly competitive bike next year, while we’ll find a rider who’s coveted by the entire paddock, like Pedro. I think we both have a great opportunity to grow.”
Asked if Bagnaia will remain in his heart, Tardozzi replied: “Someone wrote that we’ve disowned Pecco, and I reject that term and send it right back to the sender. There are circumstances, unknown to the people who said these things, that led to this decision.
“We wish Pecco all the best. The friendship, the respect, and the bond that have developed over the years with Pecco Bagnaia as a person are unbreakable; they’ll last a lifetime. The relationship we’ve built with this young man is unbreakable.”
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