End of an era: Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati to part ways after 2026
Credit: Apex Agency
Updated: 13:13, 24 Jun
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Ducati have confirmed that Francesco Bagnaia will be leaving the team at the end of the current season.
The Italian rider and team won two riders’ championships together in 2022 and 2023 during eight seasons of collaboration, making it the most successful link-up in the team’s history.
The move has been rumoured for well over a year with Bagnaia dominated by teammate Marc Marquez during the 2025 season.
It’s also widely expected that Pedro Acosta will replace him next year, switching from KTM, while Bagnaia will move to Aprilia.
Ducati confirm Bagnaia departure after 2026 season
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Ducati general manager Luigi Dall'Igna said in a press release:
"Pecco is one of those riders with whom the spark ignited immediately. We sought him out and wanted him from a very young age to build a project around him. He's fast and, above all, clever. The goal was to bring the Desmosedici GP to its full potential. We achieved it. Thanks to the work of the entire Team and the technology, but above all, thanks to Pecco's talent, which, 15 years later, has brought Ducati's red back to the top of the rankings.
“During all these seasons spent together, we've built a mature and solid relationship, founded on gratitude, trust, and respect. It's the same relationship that has allowed us to overcome difficult times, always united. Pecco will forever remain a Champion in the history of Borgo Panigale and in my personal history as well.
“With Ducati, he fulfilled his childhood dreams, and we achieved ours alongside him. In relationships, it's not always easy to recognise and understand when a cycle has ended and change is needed. The deep bond of mutual affection that unites us will not change and will be the key for managing all the races till the end of the season and for closing this journey on a high note".
Marquez is now the main man at Ducati and will have a new teammate next season (Credit: Jesus Andres Fernandez)
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Emotional tributes from Ducati leadership
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali added:
“Pecco has written some of the most memorable chapters in Ducati's history, bringing the MotoGP World Title back to Borgo Panigale in 2022 after the first one secured in 2007. That triumph marked the beginning of the most successful era for the brand in the premier class, with four Riders' Titles won, two of them by Pecco himself.
“The 2022 title has a special meaning for me, as it was the culmination of a restructuring process within Ducati Corse that allowed us to return to the forefront after a particularly difficult period. But sporting results tell only part of Pecco's value: his clean and elegant riding style (I like to call him “Il Pinturicchio”), together with his great fairness on track - combined with remarkable determination when overtaking - made Ducatisti fall in love with him. On top of that, he is a great professional and a great person away from racing.
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“The most recent seasons have been more challenging from both a sporting and technical point of view, but I am sure Pecco will give his all until his very last day in red and will be happy to meet all the fans at the upcoming World Ducati Week, taking place from 3 to 5 July in Misano. He will surely thrill us on his Panigale V4 during the Lenovo Race of Champions! On behalf of everyone at Ducati, our heartfelt thanks, Pecco."
Bagnaia's Ducati dominance slips away
The announcment comes just a day after Ducati confirmed a new deal for Marquez until 2028.
Marquez completely dominated the previous season, winning 11 races and wrapping up the title early, while Bagnaia ended the campaign fifth in the riders' championship.
It was a stark drop off for the 29-year-old who finished runner-up the previous season, and won back-to-back titles before that.
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Bagnaia won two Grand Prix last season and this term he has just one sprint victory to his name, but it did come last time out in Czechia, before a third place in Sunday's race. Giving his take on his current situation, he said:
"I'm improving. Today I lacked the last six laps, and I knew it from the morning when I saw the pace of Marc, Ai [Ogura], and Diggia [Fabio Di Giannantonio]. All weekend I've been missing two or three tenths of a second. Today I tried everything in the first few laps and I was quite confident. I didn't have any vibration problems, but I had the feeling that the rear was floating. While I was at the front, everything was fine, but as soon as Marc passed me, I started having problems with the front. I had to let it go and then get back to a good pace. Good enough to finish on the podium.
"When you ride the bike naturally, everything is easier. It's part of the process; last year I lost a lot of confidence and now I've regained speed. Perhaps we didn't choose the right setup today, but it was useful to understand which direction to take."
2027 MotoGP grid becomes clearer
With Marquez's Ducati extension confirmed, there are now five confirmed rides for 2027, with 17 left up for grabs. A final agreement on the governance and commercial framework for the 2027-2031 period was believed to be delaying contracts, but with all 11 teams now signed up, more dominoes are expected to fall in the rider market.
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| Rider | Team | Contract |
| Marc Marquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | End of 2028. |
| Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | Multi-year contract (at least two years). |
| Toprak Razgatlioglu | Prima Pramac Racing | Yamaha contract, end of 2027. |
| Johann Zarco | LCR Honda Castrol | HRC contract, end of 2027. |
| Diogo Moreira | LCR Honda Idemitsu | HRC contract, 'multi-year deal' (end of 2028). |
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