Update on Bagnaia: Here’s what the plan is following his broken foot

Francesco Bagnaia speaks out after his bitter Sprint race exit – Following his broken foot, he is heading straight to Italy for surgery – Ducati speaks of a blessing in disguise

Francesco Bagnaia will not be taking part in the Qatar Grand Prix. On Sunday, the Ducati rider set off on his journey home to Italy. He had sustained injuries to his right foot in a heavy crash during the Sprint race.

At the end of the first lap, Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini-Ducati) misjudged his line approaching the final corner whilst attempting to overtake Pedro Acosta (KTM). Aldeguer was far too fast on the inside.

The Spaniard collided with Bagnaia’s rear wheel just as the latter was already leaning into the corner. As a result, Bagnaia was thrown clear of his motorbike. The race was halted so that he could be taken safely to the ambulance.

The Ducati team announced that the Italian had fractured the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones in his right foot. The operation in Italy is scheduled to take place on Monday or Tuesday.

Bagnaia spoke out on Sunday via Instagram: “What can I say? I’ll be back soon. It feels strange to say this, but Qatar was actually one of my best weekends of the season.”

“Unfortunately, things just don’t always go to plan, no matter how hard you try to turn things around.” After a good Friday practice session, Bagnaia had already said that he now felt like a MotoGP rider again.

Aldeguer’s mistake has now landed him in hospital. “There’s absolutely nothing you can do about it,” said Bagnaia. “I’m really sorry, but I want to take the positives from this weekend, because we’ve been frustrated for far too long.”

Given the severity of the crash, Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi described it as “lucky” that Bagnaia had only broken two bones in his right foot and had otherwise got off lightly.

“Yes, fortunately he’s doing well considering the circumstances,” Tardozzi told MotoGP.com on Sunday afternoon. “He’s now on a flight back to Italy to undergo surgery, probably tomorrow in Turin.”

“But I think we were still lucky: In an accident of this kind, to come away with only fractures to the metatarsal bones in his right foot – we simply have to say we’ve got off lightly.”

Following the triple-header comprising Australia, Malaysia and Qatar, there is a break this coming weekend. After that, the races in Portugal and Valencia will take place at the end of November.

Will Bagnaia be able to contest his last two races with Ducati? “I think we’ll know more after the operation,” says Tardozzi. “But I know ‘Pecco’ – he’s a real fighter. That’s why I’m sure he’ll do everything he can to be there at Portimão.”

Following the season finale in Valencia, a test day for 2027 will take place on 1 December. Ducati has already granted Bagnaia permission to work for Aprilia for the first time on that day.