The 2025 MotoGP season was a 25-to-2 demolition derby that left Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia looking for his missing mojo in the couch cushions of the Ducati garage.
While Marc Marquez was busy turning the podium into his personal VIP lounge with 25 wins, Pecco was having a “miserable” year that would make a rainy Monday look like a carnival. Here is the lowdown on Bagnaia’s quest to find himself in 2026.
The 2025 Crash-and-Burn
How do you go from 11 wins in 2024 to finishing P5 in the championship? It’s the million-euro question.
- The Bike Betrayal: Despite Ducati insisting the GP25 was barely different from his beloved GP24, Pecco felt like he was riding a unicycle on ice.
- The Motegi Tease: He demanded old GP24 parts, slapped them on in Japan, and—boom—a double win!
- The Disappearing Act: After Motegi, the magic evaporated. He DNF’d the last five races of the season. 5 DNFs in a row? That’s not a slump; that’s a statistical anomaly.
Finding the “Feeling” (And Maybe His Maniac)
Pecco claims his “serenity” is intact, but his “feeling” for the bike has checked out of the hotel. He’s essentially saying, “I’m not crazy, the bike just stopped speaking my language.”
Pundit Mat Oxley has a different theory: Pecco needs to stop being a “nice guy” and unleash his “inner maniac.” Apparently, being polite doesn’t win championships when Marc Marquez is breathing down your neck with a 23-win advantage.
The Bulega Threat
As if Marquez wasn’t enough, WorldSBK star Nicolo Bulega is already measuring the drapes in the factory Ducati garage.
- The Jab: Bulega called Pecco “too nice.”
- The Clapback: Pecco’s response? “I’ve got elbows, and I know how to use them.” * The Stakes: If Pecco doesn’t find that “feeling” in 2026, he might find himself evicted.
The “Safety Cushion”
If the GP26 doesn’t treat him better than the GP25 did, Pecco has a backup plan: VR46. If things go south at the factory team, he can always retreat to Valentino Rossi’s academy stable. It’s the ultimate “safety cushion”—like moving back into your parents’ mansion when your apartment lease gets canceled.
📊 The Tale of the Tape: 2025 Season
| Stat | Marc Marquez (The Beast) | Francesco Bagnaia (The Searcher) |
| Wins | 25 | 2 |
| Championship Rank | P1 | P5 |
| Season Mood | Dominant | “Seeking Serenity” |
| Late Season Form | Winning everything | 5 Consecutive DNFs |
The Big Question for 2026: Will the GP26 be the bike that brings back the “Old Pecco,” or is the era of the #1 plate officially in the rearview mirror?
The verdict from the Valencia test is in, and it’s a classic “Good News, Bad News, Weird News” sandwich for Pecco fans. If you were looking for a sign of life, we’ve got a pulse—but it’s currently wearing a bandage.
Below is the breakdown of how the 2026 preseason testing actually went:
The “Feeling” is Back (Hallelujah!)
After a year of complaining that the bike felt like a shopping trolley with a broken wheel, Bagnaia finally cracked a smile. He tested the early GP26 prototype and was genuinely “happy” for the first time in months.
- The Breakthrough: He finally found the front-end feeling he’s been missing.
- The Quote: “I was able to brake really hard, something that was missing in the last few years… [The bike felt] much better compared to the last few Grands Prix.” ### 📉 The “Oops” MomentIn true 2025 fashion, Pecco couldn’t help himself. He was the only rider to crash during the entire Valencia test. He tucked the front at Turn 2 while trying to set a “time attack” lap.
- His Defense: “I honestly don’t care. I was pushing. It was my chance… I exaggerated a bit.” Classic Pecco—if he’s not on the limit, he’s not interested.
The Aero War
Ducati debuted a “more extreme” fairing for 2026. It looks like a spaceship and borrows ideas from Aprilia and KTM (including a “gully” section on the side). Pecco liked it, but warned that Valencia isn’t the best track to test aerodynamics—it’s too tight. We’ll see the real power of the “spaceship” when they hit the long straights of Sepang in February.
The Timesheet Reality Check
While Pecco was busy “feeling the vibes,” his potential replacement Nicolo Bulega was busy being fast.
- Bulega finished P8, while Bagnaia finished P10.
- Pecco was roughly 0.070s slower than the WorldSBK star.
- Bagnaia says he “doesn’t care” what people say about the gap, but you can bet the Ducati bosses are looking at those numbers with a magnifying glass.
📅 What’s Next for the Redemption Tour?
The winter break is officially on, but the clock is ticking:
- Jan 19, 2026: Official Team Launch in the Italian snow (Madonna di Campiglio). Expect awkward photos with Marc Marquez.
- Feb 3-5, 2026: The Sepang Test. This is the big one. If he’s not top 3 here, the “Bagnaia to VR46” rumors are going to go into overdrive.
Source
Motorsport.com: Why “Dreamer” Pecco Has Hope After His Worst Season
- Best for: Getting the emotional, philosophical side of Pecco’s 2025 breakdown.
Crash.net: Pecco Slower Than Bulega? “I Don’t Care”
- Best for: The juicy drama of the Valencia test timesheets and the Bulega rivalry.
Motorsport Week: Bagnaia “Surprised but Happy” with GP26 Prototype
- Best for: Technical details on the new frame and the “front-end feeling” he finally found.
Ducati Official: Writing a Future Together (Contract Extension)
- Best for: The official word on Bagnaia’s status and Ducati’s long-term faith in him.
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