BAGNAIA SAYS APRILIA MOVE WILL LIFT THE VEIL ON HIS DUCATI STRUGGLES

Francesco Bagnaia’s difficult 2026 season with Ducati continued in Malaysia, where he described the weekend as another missed chance to leave the team on a high before joining Aprilia in 2027. He qualified 10th and finished sixth in the Sprint, but struggled in Sunday’s race. He crossed the line 13th, more than five seconds behind Yamaha’s Alex Rins; retirements by Joan Mir, Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco helped determine his final position.

Bagnaia said Ducati’s usual adjustments were no longer addressing the problem. “When the problem doesn’t stem from the set-up or from an electronic calibration that you can adjust – so whether you add or reduce power, even if you make major changes – you don’t solve anything,” he told Sky Sports Italy. “We’ve been doing this all year, and the problem has remained the same. It was the same last year.”

He recalled that changes made at the Misano test and Japanese Grand Prix had helped him feel comfortable on the bike again, but said that solution was no longer available. “Now, unfortunately, that element clearly doesn’t exist,” he said, adding that a major setup change in Malaysia had made no difference. “There’s little we can do.”

Asked to explain what the missing element was, Bagnaia declined to go into detail, repeating: “Let’s not go into detail.” Asked about the underlying cause, he replied: “I’d really like to know.”

The two-time champion has scored four podiums this season, all in succession from Barcelona to Brno, but has not returned to the rostrum since. His Malaysia result adds to a run in which he has struggled to match the front of the field. He has also previously offered little detail about his problems, including after crashing out in Indonesia.

Bagnaia is due to join Aprilia on a four-year deal in 2027. The report suggests he may be more willing to discuss his Ducati difficulties once he has left the team, though he has not said that himself. His move will also bring a fresh challenge: Aprilia will need to provide a bike he can ride comfortably, while Bagnaia will aim to recover his form and contribute to the team’s push towards the MotoGP title.