The MotoGP 2026 season has been complicated for Francesco Bagnaia, who has suffered ongoing issues with his Ducati, particularly concerning the lack of grip on the rear wheel. This situation has affected him since the start of the competition and has limited his ability to achieve optimal performance.
After a difficult 2025, Bagnaia has shown improvements in recent months, achieving four consecutive podiums and a victory in a sprint race. However, technical difficulties have cost the Italian rider up to 40 points, placing him eighth in the current standings, with a 65-point deficit compared to the championship leader, Jorge Martín.
The rear grip is the main issue highlighted by the rider, who has indicated that he has not been able to maximize the use of his vehicle due to this limitation. These technical difficulties have been aggravated by the fact that Ducati riders rely heavily on the rear wheel to compensate for shortcomings at the front of the bike, which also leads to faster tire wear.
Bagnaia has expressed his frustration, stating that although improvements have been made, the rear grip issue remains unresolved. ‘I cannot use the rear to turn the bike and accelerate,’ the rider commented. Additionally, he emphasized that his satisfaction level with the season is a 5.5, acknowledging the improvements but aware of the shortcomings.
With the summer break approaching, Bagnaia hopes that the Ducati team can find similar solutions to those found by Gresini to address the same difficulties faced by Alex Márquez during the initial races of the season. ‘I hope this period helps the team understand how we can move forward,’ he added.
Recently, Bagnaia underwent surgery on his right forearm, but he hopes to recover in time for the next race at Silverstone on August 8. This year is crucial for him, as it is his last season with Ducati before joining the Aprilia team alongside Marco Bezzecchi in 2027.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
