Ducati have finally ‘identified’ what was going wrong for Francesco Bagnaia during the 2025 MotoGP season

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Francesco Bagnaia had a torrid 2025 MotoGP season with Ducati as he struggled to get to grips with the GP25.

The Italian won 11 races on the GP24 last season, but Ducati’s 2025 bike, despite having minimal differences to its predecessor, proved to be challenging for their riders. That is, with the exception of Marc Marquez, who adapted to the machine and dominated the championship.

The Spaniard’s teammate, Bagnaia, was expected to challenge him for the championship. But from the beginning of 2025, it was clear that the GP25 was not suited to the Italian’s riding style as he struggled to consistently perform.

He won just one race in the first 16 events, constantly complaining about a lack of feeling from the front end. Ducati tried to help his situation, adding GP24 parts to his bike at the Misano test.

This looked to have worked as Bagnaia claimed a double victory at Motegi, only to crash from last in Indonesia and Australia with the same setup. Things improved again at Sepang as he won the Sprint race, but he retired from six of the last seven Grands Prix.

Bagnaia struggled to ride around his problems, unlike his teammate, who won 25 races in 2025. He will be desperate to put this season behind him, after finishing fifth in the championship, 257 points behind Marquez.

Francesco Bagnaia’s 2025 Ducati problems ‘won’t exist’ in 2026

The 28-year-old will want to have a better feeling from the GP26, and it appears that Ducati have ‘identified’ what went wrong this season. Michael Laverty said via TNT Sports that his problems ‘won’t exist’ next season.

“It’s difficult to say exactly, but what we’ve learned from Michele Pirro is whatever the problems are, they won’t exist next year,” he said.

“So Ducati have identified it. Pecco, we know jumped back on the ‘24 bike at the Misano test, arrived in Japan immediately after that and somehow the old Pecco was back for one weekend only.

“And then it just went, the wheels fell off the wagon again. He turned up in Indonesia, fell, crashed out of last, crashed out of Australia. It just didn’t work again.

“And then turns up in Malaysia, little signs of Pecco, but not, it’s just not all coming together for him. So, if it is technically that he’s a little bit more, let’s say, he needs the package exactly just so, and he’s always admitted that.

“That if the bike isn’t exactly how he wants it, he can’t ride around it. He can’t do those Marc things, but Ducati can’t put it right for him next year.”

READ MORE: Luigi Dall’Igna says Marc Marquez has one trait that reminds him of a MotoGP ‘rookie’

Why Francesco Bagnaia should still worry about 2026

It is believed that the GP26 will be closer to the GP24, which will delight Bagnaia. He is much more comfortable on the older spec.

With the right setup, he has the talent to fight at the front and compete for the championship. But he has the obvious problem of having Marc Marquez as his teammate.

The Spaniard has never been beaten by a teammate in his MotoGP career, proving almost impossible to beat on equal machinery. This, added with the fact that Ducati are almost certainly listening to him for feedback on the bike, could put Bagnaia even further behind in 2026.

Not to mention, Alex Marquez will ride a factory bike next year after his impressive performances in 2025. With momentum on his side, he could put some distance between himself and Bagnaia if they can find the right feeling from the GP26.