The silence is finally broken! Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team Director Alessio Salucci has dropped a bombshell, confirming that factory Ducati champion Francesco Bagnaia secretly tested the VR46 squad’s 2024 GP24-spec Desmosedici during the crucial Misano test. This unexpected move, orchestrated by Ducati Corse, wasn’t just a friendly favour—it was a desperate strategic lifeline. Did this ‘older’ bike hold the key to Pecco’s sensational return to form in Japan? Dive into the details of the Misano MotoGP test and understand how this clandestine switch to the GP24 has completely redefined Ducati’s 2025 machinery development and the entire MotoGP title fight. 💥
Key Details of the Misano Test
- Confirmation: VR46 Team Director Alessio “Uccio” Salucci officially confirmed that Bagnaia, who rides for the Ducati factory team, tested one of the VR46-run GP24-spec bikes (Morbidelli’s machine).
- The Request: Salucci stated that Ducati requested the VR46 team’s help, emphasizing the “Ducati family” nature of the assistance.
- The Reason (Bagnaia’s Struggles): The test came after a period of struggle for Bagnaia on the 2025 GP25 factory bike, particularly with front-end feel. He had a “disastrous” San Marino Grand Prix weekend just before the test.
- The Outcome: Following the Misano test, Bagnaia’s form dramatically improved, leading to a dominant double victory (Sprint and Feature race) at the subsequent Japanese Grand Prix. He reportedly found himself 0.7 seconds a lap faster during the test than the race weekend.
- The “Hybrid” Speculation: Due to MotoGP homologation rules, Bagnaia could not switch to the GP24 engine. The widely speculated breakthrough involved creating a “hybrid” bike using the GP24 chassis/set-up paired with his mandated GP25 engine. Bagnaia himself only admitted to using “items that we were using in the past” that gave him more confidence.
Implications and Intrigue
- Validation of GP24 Design: The success of the test strongly suggests that the 2024 GP24 chassis/package was a much better fit for Bagnaia’s riding style than the new 2025 factory machine.
- Factory Team Secrecy: The confirmation from VR46 contradicted the reluctance of Bagnaia and the Ducati factory team to openly admit to the test, which fueled speculation and confusion in the paddock about the true spec of his bike moving forward.
- VR46’s Role as a Ducati Partner: The episode highlights the close, collaborative relationship between the factory Ducati Corse team and the satellite VR46 squad, which was willing to lend a race-spec machine to aid the factory’s primary title contender.
- Future Strategy: The information gathered from the GP24 test likely provided Ducati’s engineers with a clear direction for modifications to Bagnaia’s GP25 to incorporate the geometry and characteristics that gave him confidence on the older machine.
Official MotoGP Website (Dorna Sports):
- URL:
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2025/10/03/vr46-confirm-bagnaia-tried-their-gp24-at-misano-test/760404 - Reason: This is the definitive, official source for the MotoGP Championship, directly reporting Alessio Salucci’s comments.
Crash.net:
- URL:
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1083058/1/vr46-confirm-francesco-bagnaia-tried-our-gp24-misano-motogp-test - Reason: Crash.net is one of the most dedicated and frequently updated MotoGP news sites, providing comprehensive detail and analysis around the confirmation.
Motorsport.com:
- URL:
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/vr46-spills-the-beans-over-francesco-bagnaia-testing-franco-morbidellis-motogp-bike/10764310/ - Reason: A global leader in motorsport news, offering another authoritative confirmation of the event and its context within the factory team’s secrecy.
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