Matt Oxley thinks Francesco Bagnaia may have dropped a big hint about Ducati’s 2026 MotoGP engine

While the engine’s coolness prevents Ducati from introducing an entirely new unit this term, the Bologna Bullet won’t stop them from creating parts like the air intake and exhaust. Ducati may only be able to improve a few aspects, but they can offer a lot of performance.

And Oxley He hears. Bagnaya They may have hinted at how Ducati’s engine development has influenced his GP26. Thailand GPHowever, the two-time MotoGP champion failed to live up to the expectations on his shoulder after showing promising race pace during pre-season testing.

Are you changing any of your 2026 MotoGP predictions after Thailand?

It’s only one race, but there were a few surprises!

Oxley is expected to see more of Buriram than Bagnaya. Bagnaia failed to improve from Q1 in BuriramHe struggled with Michelin’s tough tire grip more than any Ducati rider.

Read more: Ducati’s top five riders, including Marc Marquez and Peco Bagnaia

But despite Bagnaia’s result, the 29-year-old said the GP26 is a better bike than the GP25, placing him only fifth in the 2025 riders. And Oxley claims Bagnaya thinks Ducati has replicated the GP24’s “friendly” engine characteristics.

“Peko Bangaya had every reason to expect a great Thai Grand Prix,” said Oxley. Motor sports magazine. “His sprint simulations at the Seppang and Buriram tests were very fast, but it didn’t work like that.

“‘There’s less grip than the tests, so Aprilia and KTM have braking and penetration,’ he said.

But Bagnaya still believes the GP26 is better than the GP25. ‘On braking and entering, you can brake later and stop the bike earlier. So it’s a good improvement for me… more stability’.

“Does this suggest a friendly inertia/engine braking characteristic of the GP24 engine?”

Pecco Bagnaia hopes Ducati’s 2026 engine can fix its braking problems on GP25.

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Bagnaia struggled to adapt to the engine braking produced by the Ducati GP25 unit, although the Borgo Panigale outfit in 2011 had a 2000-1000cc engine. The 2025 engine is said to be largely the same as the GP24. The adjustments may be small, but they manage to disrupt Bagnaia’s mood.

So, after winning 11 out of 20 Grands Prix in 2024, ceding the Riders’ title by 10 points to George Martin in Satellite GP24 for Pramac, Bagnaia managed just two wins out of 22 Grands Prix in 2025.

Bagnaia’s 2025 Japanese Grand Prix win was really in production, as well as the Sprint win at Motegi last September. Bagnaia won the 2025 US Grand Prix after crashing out of the lead with Ducati team-mate Marc Marquez more than two seconds ahead.