Francesco Bagnaia has been looking for a positive vibe from Ducati after a disastrous 2025 campaign, and now he may have found it.
The Italian It wasn’t very competitive in 2025, struggling to get any feel from the GP25 front end. Bagnaya He failed to finish six of the last seven races and finished P5 with just two wins.
during winter, Ducati They have been working to improve Desmosedici, GP25 is a clear return from GP24. In GP26, Bagnaia will be hoping to regain his passion and form, and it looks like he’s on the right track.
Bagnaya is ‘relieved’ in Malaysia. Improving his single-lap speed during the Sepang test. During run simulations, Bagnaia was faster than Marc Marquez.He carried this to Buriram’s test.
Francesco Bagnaia ‘loves it’ as he improves Ducati GP26’s braking and handling in Thailand
Bagnaia was P4 as Marco Bezcicci set a new lap record. Buriram Circuit Test Day Two in Thailand. He was two-tenths faster than the Aprilia rider, and was later singing his praises about the GP26.
Speaking through Sky ItaliaThe Ducati rider stated that he felt more comfortable on the bike in braking and cornering. It was a stark contrast to last year when he complained of a lack of feel from the GP25.
Asked if he left anything out of the time attack, Bagnaia said: “Yes, but it was a good round, unfortunately, I didn’t make the most of the third sector as much as I would have liked, but that’s not a big deal.”
“I’m still happy with 1:28. I think it’s half a second faster than my best lap at the tests last year. So it’s a step forward.”
Comparing last year’s bike, he added: “This was a tough test for me last year, less so this year. I really like the bike, I feel more comfortable: the brakes are better. There are still places where we can do better, but overall it’s an improvement.”
“I think it’s shared by all GP26 drivers, you see it in the first race.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to seed number
Francesco Bagnaia found Ducati’s solution too late as Aprilia seemed bound.
Bagnaya will face her final test in Thailand. He will have to show he can match Marquez in the season opener. Only then will it ensure that it is back in shape, but the solution may be too late.
Reports suggest that Bagnaia is set to join Aprilia in 2027, joining Bezeci. He had to act quickly MotoGP rider marketPedro Acosta is set to replace him at Ducati next year.
Bagnaia rejected a pay cut from Ducati. to go to their Italian rivals. Yamaha have been looking for the 29-year-old for a long time, but he seems to have rejected them too.
Bagnaya rejects Yamaha’s ‘very substantial’ offer. To join Aprilia. The Nole outfit is banking on a competitive 850cc bike for the 2027 MotoGP regulations.
