Francesco Bagnaia has rubbished Valentino Rossi’s claim that Ducati’s woes are down to Marc Marquez.

The Italian knight asked for all the help he could during the difficult campaign Casey Stoner who gave Bagnaia valuable advice He helped throughout the weekend for a race at Motegi.

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The latest picture of him commenting on Bagnaya’s fight is his. VR46 Riders’ Academy Mentor and MotoGP legend, Valentino Rossi.

During a roundtable with a series of MotoGP Hall of Famers, Rossi theorized that Bagnaia was ‘psychologically’ affected by Marquez’s dominance. Last year with a Ducati bike.

Francesco Bagnaia reacts to Valentino Rossi saying he ‘didn’t suffer’ because of Marc Marquez.

In a recent interview GPON Ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Bagnaia was asked his thoughts on Rossi’s comments.

The Italian rider has been clear in the past. At Ducati there was no discrimination for their factory ridersAnd Bagnaia has now rubbished Rossi’s claim that the Spaniard was to blame for his issues.

“Mark came in and took over,” Bagnaia said.

“I was in a lot of trouble, not because of Mark, but because I couldn’t live up to my potential.

Are people making too much of the Ducati’s lack of performance in one lap?

Then, reflecting on the campaign over the winter break, he was asked if he had learned an important lesson, to which he replied: “You always learn. What I’ve realized is that when the bike is capable, I can be competitive.”

I am working on learning to give more of myself when I have setbacks like in Thailand and last year.

Ducati predicted a struggle this season with the Apria emerging as favourites.

Despite his resurgence to the front of the pack, Bagnaia’s 2026 MotoGP campaign looks set to start the same way last year ended, with Ducati’s factory-spec bike unable to put the performance on display once again.

Instead, Aprilia emerged as a dominant force Marco Bezecchi’s victory in the Grand Prix All four of their riders claimed a place in the top five at the checkered flag, leading the way for the Italian build.

Pol Espargaro believes. Ducati have now hit their ceiling in MotoGP.. After years of stranglehold on the rest of the premier class grid, they look increasingly likely to be swept away by the sport in the final year of the current regulatory cycle.