PERNAT SAYS BAGNAIA MUST REDISCOVER HIS FORM AFTER SHARP DECLINE

Former rider manager Carlo Pernat says Francesco Bagnaia’s recent struggles at Ducati are painful to watch, comparing the two-time MotoGP champion’s slump with the closing years of Valentino Rossi’s career.

Bagnaia claimed consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023, then finished second to Jorge Martin. Since the start of 2025, however, he has won only twice. His recent record also includes nine exits in Q1 qualifying and 16 non-finishes. His podium rate has fallen from 64.9% across 2021–24 to 31.6% over the past couple of seasons.

Speaking to GPOne, Pernat said Bagnaia was “in a complete flop” and “completely lost”. He added: “It’s a shame, because seeing someone who won world championships end up like this is awful.” The situation, he said, reminded him of “some of Valentino’s final stages of his career”, with one important difference: “Pecco is still young.”

Rossi’s results declined after his last podium in 2018. He finished seventh in 2019 as Maverick Viñales became Yamaha’s leading rider, then 15th in 2020, his lowest championship position. Although he missed two races that season, his speed had waned. He left the factory Yamaha team and completed his career with SRT, retiring at 42 after a first season without a podium.

Bagnaia is set to leave Ducati at the end of this season and join Aprilia, partnering Marco Bezzecchi, a 2026 title contender. Bagnaia has the stronger career record, but Bezzecchi currently has the momentum. Pernat hopes the move proves the right one, saying he believes Bagnaia chose it “for redemption, certainly not for the money”. His priority, Pernat said, is to “find himself again”.

Pernat also suggested Bagnaia could face a challenge from Enea Bastianini, who will race for Trackhouse alongside Raul Fernandez. “Bastianini will be an extra boost for Aprilia next year,” he said. “I think he could do even better than Bagnaia. It remains to be seen, of course.”

Bastianini was Bagnaia’s Ducati teammate in 2024, when Bagnaia outscored him 498–396. Bastianini had endured an injury-disrupted 2023 campaign and lost his Ducati seat to Marc Marquez after 2024. Pernat’s prediction sets up an intriguing comparison as both riders begin new chapters.