believes Ducati must put the identical effort into ’s restoration because the rider himself amid the latter’s tough spell in MotoGP.
As soon as the best-performing rider inside Ducati’s roster, Bagnaia has discovered it tough to persistently struggle on the entrance for the reason that begin of the 2025 season.
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Whereas there have been flashes of tempo and the occasional victory, the two-time MotoGP champion has did not make a definitive breakthrough, resulting in growing friction between each side over the course of final 12 months.
Ducati has already decided to switch the two-time MotoGP champion in 2027, bringing in from KTM to associate .
Rossi believes that whereas Bagnaia is giving his finest within the final season of their partnership, Ducati just isn’t as dedicated as his protege in serving to him flip round his 2026 marketing campaign.
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“Pecco has an excellent perspective this 12 months,” Rossi instructed Sky Italia. “We practice collectively usually, and he’s actually giving it his all.
“He genuinely desires to get again to profitable with Ducati, and that’s the proper mindset. The outcomes had been evident at Le Mans: he took pole place – although sadly he tousled each begins—however in any other case, he might have gained each races. In actual fact, he completed second within the Dash, and in the principle race, he crashed because of a brake difficulty.
“The season remains to be lengthy, and Pecco doubtless will not be with Ducati subsequent 12 months; nonetheless, I want to see Ducati commit themselves simply as a lot as Pecco does within the effort to get again to the entrance.
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“I’ve observed that, following the occasions of final 12 months, the environment between them has cooled considerably. However Pecco is giving it his finest shot, and I hope everybody at Ducati does the identical, as a result of the potential to return to profitable methods is unquestionably there.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Bagnaia is Ducati’s most profitable rider in MotoGP, having gained two titles and scored 31 grands prix to date aboard the Desmosedici.
However his standing because the Italian producer’s favorite youngster was upended final 12 months when Marquez joined from Gresini and instantly romped to the title.
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Nonetheless, Marquez’s harm troubles in 2026 have put the highlight again on Bagnaia, with Ducati once more counting on the Italian amid an intense title problem from MotoGP’s new benchmark Aprilia.
Bagnaia distanced himself from Rossi’s feedback, insisting that he feels Ducati is simply as dedicated as he’s on discovering an answer for his woes.
“What Vale stated is simply assumption,” he responded. “He sees what I do at dwelling, however he doesn’t see what they’re doing at Ducati.
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“We’re all working laborious, however it’s apparent that after final 12 months – which was stuffed with main difficulties – we’re working to attempt to regain our stability.
“It’s not straightforward, as a result of we haven’t but discovered a primary set-up for this bike, not like . So we’re exploring each avenue to get there.
“We’re taking small steps, perhaps a little bit late, however we’re getting there. In any case, I really feel Ducati’s dedication behind me.”
Photographs from Catalan GP – SaturdayAlex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Pictures / Getty Photographs
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Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Crew
Marc Marquez, Ducati Crew
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Valentino Rossi, VR46 Racing Crew
Valentino Rossi, VR46 Racing Crew
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Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
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Aleix Espargaró, Honda HRC
Aleix Espargaró, Honda HRC
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Jack Miller, Pramac Racing
Jack Miller, Pramac Racing
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Maverick Vinales, Purple Bull KTM Tech 3
Maverick Vinales, Purple Bull KTM Tech 3
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Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
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Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
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Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
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Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Crew
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Crew
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Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing
Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Gabriela Guzman, girlfriend of Alez Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gabriela Guzman, girlfriend of Alez Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Enea Bastianini, Purple Bull KTM Tech 3
Enea Bastianini, Purple Bull KTM Tech 3
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Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
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Luca Marini, Honda HRC
Luca Marini, Honda HRC
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Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Crew
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Crew
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Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Crew
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Crew
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Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
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Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Burak Akbulut – Anadolu – Getty Photographs
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
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Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
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Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Crew
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Crew
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing
Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing
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Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC
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Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
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Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC crash
Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC crash
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Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC crash
Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC crash
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Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC crash
Brad Binder, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing, Joan Mir, Honda HRC crash
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Crew
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
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Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
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Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Crew , Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Crew
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Crew , Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Crew
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Crew
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Crew
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Crew
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Crew
Eric Alonso / Getty Photographs
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
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Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Qian Jun / MB Media by way of Getty Photographs
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