Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati contract now has less than 12 months to run and his time at the team could be drawing to a close.
twice MotoGP He suffered the worst year of his career as he was edged out by teammate Marc Marquez in the 2025 championship.
For some reason, the GP25 didn’t quite agree. Bagania Style and has led to retirements in six of the past seven Grands Prix.
This summer, it’s up. Ducati To fix those woes and give him a better bike for the pre-season test. From there, he starts making decisions about the future.
Who is Ducati’s best choice to replace Francesco Bagnaia?
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Fans don’t see Bagnaia as Márquez’s closest rival. For the 2026 title, the Spaniard will be looking to defend his honor after returning from a collarbone injury.
Bagnaia has been told to consider his Ducati future. When it comes time to make a decision in the future. He may soon find himself a match for his rival.
Read more: Matt Oxley divulges the stats that show just how far back Ducati has set his 2025 bike.
Francesco Bagnaia should be the first to attack the MotoGP rider market after pre-season testing
Bagnaia has lost ‘confidence’ in Ducati.And it’s something that needs to be focused on rebuilding in the next few months.
If he doesn’t, it will be almost impossible for him to challenge for another title. Now, he feels just as old as he did when he was fighting George Martin for the 2024 title, and that goes for both of them.
with MotoGP rider market In the year Even more chaotic than 2026, everyone will be taking a bit of a guess who will be competitive in 2027 at the start of the new rules.
Whoever picks first will have a clear advantage. That’s why it would be a wise move for Bagnaia to make a call on his future right after the pre-season test.
If it seems inevitable that Ducati will let him go, then why not get ahead of the game and make sure he gets a seat with another manufacturer for next year?
Not only should he be guaranteed better financial terms, but he should also put himself in a better position to win again in the future.
Read more: The five MotoGP riders at risk of losing their seats in 2026, including Francesco Bagnaio
Why Francesco Bagnaia could benefit from leaving Ducati for 2027
Bagnaia needs to ‘rediscover’ his passion at Ducati. If he wants to compete in 2026, he has the advantage of a post-season test in Valencia, which his teammate missed.
But going for good, even if he wants to retire with the team he’s always been a part of, can be better for everyone.
A fresh start away from the negativity of the current situation may be the reset Bagnaia needs. A new support network can revive him.
But at the same time, it is far from the best machine on the grid. Moving to a place like Yamaha poses its own challenges.
