Bagnaia's Ducati Departure
Ducati Confirms Francesco Bagnaia's Departure, Ending Era; Joins Rival Aprilia
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Key Points
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Bagnaia's Ducati statistics underscore his impact: 31 race wins, 62 podiums and 28 pole positions for Ducati, making him the most successful rider in Ducati's modern era.
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Valencia Grand Prix 2026 is slated to be Bagnaia's final on-track appearance for the Ducati Lenovo Team, marking the end of eight seasons with Ducati's factory squad.
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Ducati’s management highlighted Bagnaia's qualities and the project around him, with Luigi Dall’Igna emphasizing that Bagnaia was fast and clever and that Ducati sought him out from a young age to build around him.
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Ducati’s 2027 lineup is set to feature no Italian riders for the first time since 2010, signaling a significant shift in the manufacturer's rider strategy.
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Bagnaia's exit comes amid a context of tension with Marc Marquez, who has been dominant since joining Ducati's factory squad in 2025, contributing to Bagnaia's challenging period and the decision to realign rider lineups.
Ducati has confirmed Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia will leave its factory MotoGP squad at the end of the 2026 season, ending an eight-year partnership that produced two world titles, 31 race wins, and 62 podiums, according to Reuters. The Valencia Grand Prix in late 2026 will be his final race in Ducati red.
Bagnaia is set to join Aprilia for 2027, while Pedro Acosta is tipped to fill his seat alongside Marc Marquez at Ducati. The move reshapes the entire MotoGP grid and marks the end of the most successful Italian rider era in Ducati's modern history, Free Malaysia Today reported.
Two Titles, Then a Teammate Who Changed Everything
Bagnaia joined Ducati as a rookie in 2019 via the Pramac satellite team. He moved to the factory squad in 2021 and won back-to-back world titles in 2022 and 2023, ending Ducati's 15-year championship drought. His numbers tell the story: 31 wins, 62 podiums, and 28 pole positions, according to Reuters.
Then came Marc Marquez. When Marquez joined the factory team in 2025, the dynamic shifted fast. Marquez won his ninth world title that year with 545 points. Bagnaia finished fifth overall — 257 points behind his own teammate. The gap made Ducati's next move almost inevitable, Free Malaysia Today reported.
Ducati Praises Bagnaia, Then Moves On
Ducati's top executives were warm in their praise but clear in their direction. CEO Claudio Domenicali said Bagnaia "has written a fundamental part of Ducati's sporting history" and called him "a champion both on and off the track." General Manager Luigi Dall'Igna added that Bagnaia was "fast and, above all, clever."
But Dall'Igna also signaled the hard reality. "In relationships, it is not always easy to recognize when a cycle has ended and change is necessary," he said. On June 23, Ducati confirmed Marquez's extension through 2028. Bagnaia's exit was confirmed the next day, according to Reuters.
Aprilia Gets Its Champion, Ducati Goes All-Spanish
Bagnaia is expected to sign a multi-year deal with Aprilia, where he will partner Marco Bezzecchi starting in 2027. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola has long sought a rider of Bagnaia's caliber to lead the team's development of its new 850cc bike. Bagnaia reportedly chose Aprilia over a higher financial offer from Yamaha, according to Free Malaysia Today.
With Marquez confirmed and Acosta expected to join, Ducati's 2027 factory lineup will feature no Italian riders — the first time that has happened since 2010. For Italy's passionate "Tifosi" fans, the exit of the man who brought an Italian rider back to an Italian world title is a deeply emotional loss.
The 850cc Era and What Comes Next for Both Sides
The 2027 season brings more than new riders — it brings a technical revolution. MotoGP is cutting engine displacement from 1000cc to 850cc and limiting aerodynamics. All five manufacturers signed the 2027–2031 Concorde Agreement at Brno on June 19. Bagnaia's "feedback-heavy" development style is seen as a major asset for Aprilia as it builds its new prototype.
For Ducati, a Marquez-Acosta pairing is viewed across the paddock as a bold, high-risk bet. Insiders describe the potential lineup as "terrifying" from a pure speed standpoint. But by moving on from its greatest modern champion, Ducati has made clear that winning tomorrow matters more than honoring yesterday, according to Reuters.
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