Ducati general manager Luigi Daligna has noted a positive change from Francesco Bagnaia and hopes he can repeat it when he hits Sepang for the MotoGP pre-season test.
The start of the 2026 MotoGP season is just around the corner, with the paddock set to gather for testing at Sepang. Factory test drivers, rookies and teams with concessions can take part in shakedown testing on January 29-31 before the official test on February 3-5.
MotoGP bikes haven’t hit a track since November, when the teams put their 2026 packages on the circuit at the post-season Valencia test. Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez sets the fastest lap at the Valencia test. With his Aprilia, Gresini star Alex Marquez was fast Ducati Thirdly.
Bagnaya The Italian completed the Valencia test with the 10th fastest lap time as he looks to get on the front foot heading into the summer after a poor 2025 campaign. The 28-year-old has fallen to fifth in the 2025 standings, having failed to finish in six of the last seven Grands Prix.
David Tardozzi thinks Francesco Bagnaia is back 👀 How many races will he win in 2026?
Join the debate; Share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to make a comment
Luigi Daleigna Francesco Bagnaia feels he has ‘got a feeling’ on the Ducati 2026 bike
Bagnaia encouraged David Tardozzi during the Valencia testEven if the day ends in disaster. The Turin native crashed in Turn 2 with 43 minutes to go as he looked to push the aero package at the Bullets of Bologna 2026. Bagnaia’s effort at Valencia also impressed. Dale Igna.
Read more: The best moments of Francesco Bagnaia’s MotoGP career
Like Ducati team manager Tardozzi, general manager Dall’Igna believes Bagnaia showed a better “feel” in GP26 than in the Valencia test in GP25 last season. Dall’Igna will now hope to see Bagnaya repeat that “feeling” at the Sepang test.
“Not that it was a problem,” Dali Igna said. As. “Really, when we’re talking about emotion, we’re talking about a combination of a lot of things that have to go well, and that’s what we’re getting going into Sepang.
“After the race, in the tests in Valencia, it seemed to me that Peco got some feeling, and the time was very interesting. So I hope to find the same conditions in Sepang.”
Peco Bagnaia has to adapt to the future of the Ducati 2026 bike.
Who would win as teammates, Francesco Bagnaia or Pedro Acosta?
Join the debate; Share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to make a comment
Tardozi believed Bagnaia had a “lack of confidence” with the Ducati 2025 bikeIn the year In 2021, he had his worst year since joining the Borgo Pangale team. Bagnaia fought for the title every year from 2021 to 2024, and won in 2022 and 2023, but failed to fight in 2025.
Several MotoGP agents believe that Ducati will now leave Bagnaia When his contract expires at the end of the 2026 season due to the 2025 crisis. His replacement is probably obvious; “I want to see Pedro Acosta in Ducati,” said Dale Igna. Between multiple links.
Bagnaia must return in 2026 to secure a future with Ducati, who are expected to face a tough fight from Aprilia this year. Ducati doesn’t want to pour too many resources into helping Bagnaia adapt to the GP26 while they work on their bike for the 2027 regulations.
