Valentino Rossi believes Ducati needs to put the same effort into Francesco Bagnaia’s recovery as the rider himself amid the latter’s difficult spell in MotoGP.
Once the best-performing rider within Ducati’s roster, Bagnaia has found it difficult to consistently fight at the front since the start of the 2025 season.
While there have been flashes of pace and the occasional victory, the two-time MotoGP champion has failed to make a definitive breakthrough, leading to increasing friction between both sides over the course of last year.
Ducati has already made a decision to replace the two-time MotoGP champion in 2027, bringing in Pedro Acosta from KTM to partner Marc Marquez.
Rossi believes that while Bagnaia is giving his best in the last season of their partnership, Ducati is not as committed as his protege in helping him turn around his 2026 campaign.
“He has a very good attitude this year [and] he’s really giving it his all. The results are visible because he had a great weekend at Le Mans,” the MotoGP legend told Sky Italia. “The season is still long, and he probably won’t be racing for Ducati again next year.
“I’d like Ducati to put in the same effort as Pecco to try to get back to the front.
“Like in a marriage where you love each other so much [but] when bad things happen like last year and the results don’t come, Pecco made some comments. I see that tempers have cooled a bit. But he’s trying, and I hope everyone at Ducati is trying too, because I think the potential to win again is there.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images
Bagnaia is Ducati’s most successful rider in MotoGP, having won two titles and scored 31 grands prix so far aboard the Desmosedici.
But his status as the Italian manufacturer’s favourite child was upended last year when Marquez joined from Gresini and immediately romped to the title.
However, Marquez’s injury troubles in 2026 have put the spotlight back on Bagnaia, with Ducati again relying on the Italian amid an intense title challenge from MotoGP’s new benchmark Aprilia.
Bagnaia distanced himself from Rossi’s comments, insisting that he feels Ducati is just as committed as he is on finding a solution for his woes.
“What Vale said is just assumption,” he responded. “He sees what I do at home, but he doesn’t see what they’re doing at Ducati.
“We’re all working hard, but it’s obvious that after last year – which was full of major difficulties – we’re working to try to regain our balance.
“It’s not easy, because we haven’t yet found a basic set-up for this bike, unlike Fabio Di Giannantonio. So we’re exploring every avenue to get there.
“We’re taking small steps, maybe a little late, but we’re getting there. In any case, I feel Ducati’s commitment behind me.”
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