Ducati insists Bagnaia has same bike as Marquez amid growing tensions
Bagnaia and Marquez are having very different seasons (Credit: Apex Agency)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Things are threatening to turn nasty between Ducati and their most-successful-ever rider.
The Italian outfit are on the brink of the riders’ championship with Marc Marquez, but the man who’s already won them two - Francesco Bagnaia - could hardly be further from that reality.
Bagnaia is set to record his worst-ever MotoGP finish on factory equipment, currently ninth in the standings.
Last time out in Malaysia, he recorded a season-worst 13th in the Grand Prix, and then expressed his disappointment to the media, with a cryptic comment about his bike
Bagnaia's mysterious claims about his bike
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He told Sky Italia: “During the Misano test and the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, something other than simple adjustments and setup changes were altered.
“That change allowed me to ride again. Now that thing doesn’t exist, just as it no longer existed after last year’s race in Japan…”
Asked what it was, ‘Pecco’ replied: “I don't want to go into details.”
The comments naturally provoked plenty of intrigue, and were the first thing put to Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi.
“That change allowed me to ride again. Now that thing doesn’t exist."- Pecco Bagnaia
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Now responding, he said: “I have no idea what he’s referring to.
“Whatever we’ve done lately - and even over the past year or so - hasn’t improved Bagnaia’s performance.
“We’re aware that he’s a champion and has innate speed, but right now not even his crew chief and his electronics specialist - with whom he won two World Championships - have a clear path forward.
“We’ve even done things tailored exclusively to him, but unfortunately, we still haven’t found what he needs.”
“I have no idea what he’s referring to."- Davide Tardozzi
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Tardozzi insists Bagnaia has same machinery as Marquez
Asked if Bagnaia’s bike is any different to that of teammate and championship leader Marquez, Tardozzi said: “The bike is the same one he used to achieve those results.
“It’s the same one Marc won with and the one Alex [Marquez] used to get on the podium. We have no idea what’s going on.”
The subject will likely run and run until Bagnaia clears up what he was referring to.
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The 2022 and 2023 MotoGP champion leaves Ducati at the end of the season, heading to Aprilia.
Various leading factory riders are making similarly high-profile switches, namely Fabio Quartarao leaving Yamaha for Honda.
Sadly, things have turned bitter between the Frenchman and the Japanese outfit, who have been airing their disappointment with each other in the media.
There are now hints that things are also deteriorating between Bagnaia and his home team.
Bagnaia's comments won't help tensions (Photo: Monster Media)
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Bagnaia admits he just wants to survive final Ducati races
Asked if he was counting down the days until the end of the season, he admitted he got to that point much earlier on.
“Not just now,” he responded. When asked what he wants from the final three races, he simply said: “To survive.”
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