Why former world champion Francesco Bagnaia now needs Ducati’s help more than ever, which the manufacturer has so far failed to provide him with
Ducati factory rider Francesco Bagnaia seemed to have ended his slump with his double victory at Motegi (Sprint and Grand Prix). But Mandalika sent the Italian straight to hell—a place from which Ducati must now rescue him unconditionally.
Of all the statements Marc Marquez made in Japan just over a week ago as the newly crowned 2025 MotoGP world champion, there was one that may not have made the headlines but probably best sums up what the Spaniard has been through in the darkest phase of his sporting career.
“The help I received has enabled me to be back here [as world champion] now. I didn’t fall to the ground. I was already underground. When you’re lying on the ground, you can jump back up. But when you’re lying underneath, you need someone to pull you out,” said Marquez, as eloquent as he was grateful.
Bagnaia has not yet quite reached the same critical point as Marquez in recent years. But he too needs help. And he needs it unconditionally.
“Pecco” has hit rock bottom and deserves support. Despite his difficult situation, he remains the most successful MotoGP rider in Ducati’s history to date and the most prominent representative of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy.
In light of recent events, one inevitably wonders whether the Ducati factory team in Borgo Panigale and Rossi’s Ducati satellite team are really doing everything in their power to save the two-time MotoGP world champion.
The concentration of egos within Ducati exceeds that of any other MotoGP manufacturer. It would indeed be strange if this were not the case. After all, Ducati has not only brought together the two most successful riders in the field under one roof, but its entire strategy revolves around the most dominant motorcycle ever built. And this Desmosedici, in its latest version, bears the unmistakable signature of engineer Gigi Dall’Igna.
Dall’Igna has become one of the most influential figures in MotoGP history. He knows this and makes sure—subtly or not—that those who have the privilege of riding his prototypes know it too.
Dall’Igna’s voice carries decisive weight in all relevant areas of the Ducati factory: technical, sporting, and even political. And in a racing series where the riders have always been the true heroes at the center of attention, this dynamic inevitably leads to friction.
This was particularly the case in the past with Andrea Dovizioso. “Dovi” is the only one who seriously challenged Marquez in the World Championship battle in 2017 and 2018, but then parted ways with Ducati while still their most competitive rider.
Dovizioso was replaced in 2021 by Bagnaia, who arrived with a clear head and no preconceptions, evolving alongside the bike until he became world champion twice (2022 and 2023) and fought for the title until the very end in four years (2021-2024).
Now Bagnaia seems to be a shadow of his former self. And despite all its efforts, Ducati has so far failed to give him the support he so obviously needs. This is where egos come into play once again.
Whether it’s the psychological blow caused by Marquez’s overwhelming superiority or Bagnaia’s own inability to ride this year’s bike as he did in 2024, when he racked up eleven Grand Prix victories, the confusion on all sides is striking. And one thing is certain: it doesn’t cast those involved in a good light.
Manufacturers naturally only look ahead. They rarely admit that last year’s machine might in some cases be more competitive than the current one. This is understandable, because otherwise they would have to admit that they wasted time and money developing the new model.
That seems to be the reason why Ducati did everything it could to conceal the fact that Bagnaia tested the GP24 (equipped with the GP25 engine) at the Misano test.
And they succeeded in doing so until VR46 team boss Alessio “Uccio” Salucci let the cat out of the bag last Friday in Mandalika. “On the Monday after Misano, ‘Pecco’ tried out our bike, Morbidelli’s bike,” he revealed. Ducati was furious. Team manager Davide Tardozzi publicly admitted that they were “surprised” by this revelation.
Some observers believe that Rossi’s longtime confidant “Uccio” simply let it slip. They assume that Ducati does not see it that way—rather, as a subtle act of rebellion, an expression of dissatisfaction with the way Bagnaia is treated by the factory.
If it was a genuine mistake, it would suggest two things: either Salucci’s slip-up was unworthy of a man in his position, or communication with Ducati is virtually non-existent, which seems unlikely given the company’s meticulous approach.
Regardless of what was behind the revelation, it did not help Bagnaia. The 2022 and 2023 world champion left another Grand Prix without speaking to the media last Sunday in Mandalika, just as he did in Misano.
“‘Pecco’ is devastated. If he had come [for the interview], he would have had tears in his eyes,” explained Tardozzi, adding: “He is an extremely fast rider, but also very sensitive. At the moment, we think it’s best to leave him alone, let him work and prepare for Phillip Island.”
If there is anyone who can truly empathize with Bagnaia, it is the universally popular former racer Tardozzi himself, who acted as Ducati’s spokesperson on a weekend that should have been full of confetti but ultimately turned into a nightmare.
Within a week, Ducati went from celebrating the title win of one of its two riders—and the possible resurrection of the other after his first double victory of the season—to mourning the champion’s injury and witnessing the total collapse of his teammate.
While Marquez’s injury simply needs time to heal, Bagnaia’s case requires real help—from someone who can put their own ego aside and sincerely help rebuild one of the biggest stars on the MotoGP scene.
Not least, this would further enhance Ducati’s reputation – not only as a manufacturer that can produce champions, but also as one that is willing to stand by them when they need it most.