Ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Valentino Rossi talks with Francesco Bagnaia, the president of Italy.
Valentino Rossi made a cameo appearance as a tram driver at the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026.
The MotoGP Hall of Famer performed in a pre-recorded segment at the opening ceremony with Italian President Sergio Mattarella arriving at the San Siro in Milan.
even though Rossi Having not competed in MotoGP since 2021, the Italian still has a strong connection with the VR46 Academy riders and the sport. VR46 racing team.
However, nine-time world champion Matrella has expressed his interest in the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season. Francesco Bagnaia Especially.
Valentino Rossi Reveals Opinions About Francesco Bagnaia
Behind the scenes at the opening ceremony, the Italian president asked Rossi how the Italians were doing in MotoGP, especially in Baggia.
After winning the MotoGP World Championship in 2022 and 2023, Bagnaia retired in 2018. He missed the championship in 2024 and 2025. The Italian rider He had a particularly poor season in 2025, finishing fifth in the championship.
Rassi assured Italian President Bagnoia that he was ‘motivated and ready’, who asked Mattarella if the Italians could ‘defeat these Spaniards’.
Speaking about the meeting with the Italian president, Rossi said Corriere della Sera“He asked me how we’re doing in the MotoGP World Championship, how is Bagnaia? I reassured him, I told him it would be tough, but Peco seems motivated and ready to have a good season.”
“And he said, ‘Okay, so can we beat these Spaniards?’ great.”
Where does Francesco Bagnaia end up for the 2027 season?
The 2026 MotoGP season could be Bagnaia’s last chance with the factory. Ducati As the team is out of contract at the end of the year.
This year marks the Italian rider’s eighth year with the Italian manufacturer after joining Pramac Ducati in 2019 before moving to the factory team in 2021.
Bagnaia will reportedly lose his place with the Italian manufacturer in 2027 after losing out to Ducati riders Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
It is believed that Pedro Acosta will be the rider taking Bagnayan’s place in the factory Ducati garage. With Marc Marquez for the 2027 MotoGP season.
In the year There are reports of two possible destinations for Bagnaia in 2027. Yamaha is believed to be the leading competitor to secure Italy, but Jorge Lorenzo described Aprian as the ‘best’ option. Two-time MotoGP champion.
