MotoGP’s first pre-season test of the 2026 season is now underway, with all eyes on Ducati to see if they can develop a more GP25-friendly bike, with both Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Gianntonio struggling for consistency.
The friendliness Ducati The 2025 factory-spec bike was one of the biggest talking points last year, due to the stellar lineup of the Italian builder due to the comparable results.
Mark Marquez Returning to his former dominance, he finally showed Prototype his seventh World Cup in the premier class.
however, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio di Giannantonio fought hard To repeat the Spanish result.
Despite competing for the trophy in all four of his seasons at Borgo Pangale, Bagnaya For most of the year he was nowhere near Márquez, who finished the campaign in fifth place, almost half the points amassed by his counterpart.
- Read more: Marc Marquez had a quick reaction after riding the Ducati 2026 MotoGP bike for the first time.
Why should Luigi Daleigna design a bike that fits anyone but Marc Marquez?
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Peter Bohm saw all four Ducati riders ‘smiling’ after their first test on the new GP26 factory bike.
During it Redefining Peter Bohm, the first day of MotoGP 2026 pre-season testing in Septang, described the ‘positive surprise’ he saw in the press room from the Ducati factory-backed riders after the day’s racing.
He said, “A positive surprise on the first day, for sure, and this is a big one, the Ducati GP26 is much better than last year’s crappy GP25, which only Marc Marquez could handle, and it was a disaster for everyone else.
“There are (four) GP26 riders and they all came to us smiling everywhere because the bike is as good as the GP24 and has the potential to be even better.
“So Ducati came up with a GP26 that’s not as extreme as you’d expect, and a very, very friendly bike.”
Marquez picked up where he left off on the first day of the testSetting the fastest times of the day by one-hundredth of a second with pole position at last year’s edition of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Although seven-tenths of the Marquez benchmark, Bagnaya highlights how he got ‘what he wanted’ at GP26. Following his disappointing campaign last season.
While it’s still early days to cement the Italian as a championship contender, it certainly bodes well for him to have a more competitive season ahead.
True or False? Ducati’s dominance ends in 2026.
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Francesco Bagnaia’s future in MotoGP is yet to be decided.
A better feeling on Ducati’s new bike is more comfortable for Bagnaia than for Marquez, which the Italian made history for GP25 last year.
In fact, Bagnaia is currently looking at losing its place at Borgo Pangale via a 2025-spec factory prototype.
Pedro Acosta has already finalized his deal with Ducati. For 2027, so it remains to be seen how long the two-time world champion will actually be confirmed. David Tardozi And Luigi Daligna That he can still compete for the best team on the grid.
Bagnaia is not short of suitors if Ducati pulls the project, but he has previously said he plans to retire at Borgo Pangale, showing his passion for the team at its lowest ebb.
