Casey Stoner believes Francesco Bagnaia “obtained the brief straw” amid his Ducati struggles, arguing that too many individuals dismissed the Italian’s complaints concerning the bike earlier than he was in the end dropped by the manufacturing unit.
All through 2025, Bagnaia advised that one thing had essentially modified on the Desmosedici, as he went from a title contender in 2024 to an also-ran on events. Though he managed to safe two grand prix wins and several other different podiums in 2025, he largely struggled for velocity, failing to complete the final six out of seven races
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However whereas each he and VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio struggled to tame the GP25, team-mate Marc Marquez wrapped up the title with 5 races to spare, exhibiting the bike was nonetheless able to successful the championship regardless of its weaknesses.
Stoner stated he at all times believed Bagnaia’s complaints concerning the bike have been justified, insisting the GP25 behaved in another way to its predecessor.
“I really feel very sorry for Pecco as a result of for the final interval he has struggled just a little bit,” Stoner instructed MotoGP.com.
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“Everyone misplaced religion in Pecco as a result of they have been saying he’s simply complaining, it is the identical bike, ‘blah blah’. However I may see from the skin that the bike was not the identical.
“It is a actually clean rider, actually clean man on all these parts, and I used to be watching the bike do issues it should not be doing.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Group
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Group
Over the winter break, Ducati opted to poach Pedro Acosta from KTM for 2027, with Bagnaia occurring to signal a brand new deal to affix fellow Italian Marco Bezzecchi at Aprilia.
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This may carry to an finish one of the crucial profitable rider/crew partnerships in modern-day MotoGP. Bagnaia delivered Ducati its first riders’ title since Stoner’s triumph in 2007 by defeating Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo in 2022, earlier than efficiently defending the crown the next season.
Stoner hopes a recent begin at Aprilia will permit Bagnaia to construct on the shape he has rediscovered aboard the GP26 this 12 months, believing the Italian was arduous carried out by throughout his remaining spell at Ducati.
“Contemplating Pecco is the one that actually gave them their first championships since mine, back-to-back, after which was second on both aspect of that, and was the one Ducati rider actually on the entrance, he obtained the brief straw, for certain.
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“I am additionally excited to see what can occur for him, to search out some new motivation, hopefully a brand new household in Aprilia, and to get again to his methods and the way in which he was assured.”
Learn Additionally:
Casey Stoner urges Pedro Acosta to be extra affected person in MotoGP
The difficulty that’s holding Francesco Bagnaia again in MotoGP 2026
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