Bagnaia brought Ducati back to the top of MotoGP
“You were my dream”. Francesco Bagnaia in saying goodbye to Ducati at the moment the separation from the Borgo Panigale factory was made official for the end of 2026, emphasized that he grew up in the myth of the Red of two wheels.
Ducati wanted to debut Bagnaia in MotoGP with the Pramac team already in 2018, but the rider raised in the VR46 riders academy asked for a year of patience to try to win the Moto2 title. Bagnaia completed the mission and then brought Ducati back to the top of MotoGP in 2022, ending a very long drought after the sensational title won by Casey Stoner, the Australian, in 2007. After 8 years together, however, Bagnaia and Ducati will part ways. The rider will move from red to black by joining Aprilia and his legacy will be taken up by Pedro Acosta who will form an all-Spanish pair with Marc Marquez.
An unbreakable bond
Team manager Davide Tardozzi strongly wanted to reject the exaggerated narrative that Ducati had ‘repudiated’ Bagnaia. “Someone wrote that we repudiated Pecco, and I reject this term and send it back to the sender – Tardozzi’s words at the World Ducati Week reported by the outlet gpone – there are situations that the people who said these things do not know, which led to this decision. We wish Pecco the best. The friendship, respect, and relationship that has been created over these years with the man Pecco Bagnaia is indestructible, it will last a lifetime. The bond created with this guy is unbreakable“.
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“I swear that I dreamed of a podium finish with Pecco, because it will happen – added Tardozzi regarding Bagnaia’s future at Aprilia – we will be there with our riders and he with his new team, on the podium. I thought about what I will have to say to him and it is very likely that I won’t be able to say anything but just hug him“.
