BAGNAIA CHASES A DUCATI MILESTONE IN MISANO AND COMMENTS ON MARQUEZ’ INJURY SITUATION

Pecco Bagnaia heads into Misano with a clear message: after a tough stretch, he and Ducati Corse are ready to reset and fight for a stronger showing. The Italian had another difficult weekend in Aragon, following the pattern he saw in Silverstone, where he was unable to score points. According to Speedweek, the main problem was a lack of rear-wheel grip, which left the two-time MotoGP world champion struggling.

In the championship picture, Bagnaia sits eighth with nine Grands Prix remaining, trailing leader Jorge Martin by 113 points. With only two MotoGP events left before Misano, Bagnaia’s focus is on moving past the recent frustration and finding a better feeling with his Desmosedici.

Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is central to that plan. Speedweek notes that the track is close to Bagnaia’s home—just over 20 kilometers away—and that he knows it well from training there frequently with friends from the VR46 Academy. The circuit is also described as offering plenty of grip, a factor that could help address the rear traction issues he faced in Aragon.

Looking ahead, Bagnaia said: “In Aragon we had to fight, but putting your head in the sand is not my nature. That’s why we, with the whole team, get straight back to work—on a very special track: my real home circuit, especially for all the Ducatisti. We don’t give up and we’ll keep giving everything to get back into a leading role. I’m sure the support and passion of the fans will give me that extra boost, like it has in the past.”

Speedweek also frames Misano as a potential turning point in the broader Ducati-Aprilia fight. In recent years, the Desmosedici has been the bike to beat at Misano, but this season Aprilia is described as a more equal opponent. Bagnaia recalled the form Ducati showed in 2024 and compared it to the current situation: “The potential that Ducati had in 2024 was unbeatable. Today there are four of us on a GP26, but if we had the GP24 now, we’d still be right there at the front.” He added that he remembers the promise the race offered for him two years ago, while acknowledging the progress from Aprilia and a step back from Ducati: “Maybe we can fight with them (Aprilia) this weekend.”

The Misano build-up also included Bagnaia’s comments on Marc Marquez’s injury situation. Marquez had posted a photo on social media showing his right arm and shoulder after multiple operations, and Speedweek reports that Bagnaia said it’s hard to judge from the outside. “It’s difficult to assess from the outside. But it’s also no secret that Marc has a poker face. Nobody knows the reality,” Bagnaia said. He described the scale of the work Marquez has undergone and what it means for his riding: “With seven operations on one arm, it’s normal to be limited. In that respect, it’s admirable how he handles race weekends.” Bagnaia added that Marquez showed him the picture before the Aragon GP: “He showed me this image before the Aragon GP—it’s indescribable what situation he’s in. Given that, he’s doing a great job. I don’t know to what extent he’s limited. Sometimes he’s very strong, sometimes he’s managing damage. But he does fantastic things.”

Speedweek notes that Marquez’s openness was intended to end speculation ahead of the weekend’s press conference, and Bagnaia said he has a different approach to social media: “I have a different approach to social media—I’m completely different from many riders. I prefer to keep certain things secret. You don’t know many things about me.”

Misano also brings a major milestone for Bagnaia. Speedweek reports that on Sunday he will become the Ducati rider with the most MotoGP Grand Prix starts in the class, reaching 142 appearances from Qatar 2019 through the San Marino Grand Prix in 2026. The previous Ducati record was held by Andrea Dovizioso with 141 starts, while Hector Barbera had 108.

Finally, the weekend is set to be Bagnaia’s last Misano appearance on the Ducati. Speedweek adds that in 2027 he will ride the Aprilia RS-GP at the 4.226-kilometer circuit.