Francesco Bagnaia has confessed that his campaign with the Ducati Team in the 2026 season has been hindered by a persistent issue of rear grip, a problem that has affected the Italian rider since the start of the competition. Nevertheless, he has managed to recover from a difficult previous year, achieving four consecutive podiums and a sprint victory in the last two months.
Currently, Bagnaia sits in eighth place in the standings, with a 65-point deficit to championship leader Jorge Martin. The three technical issues he has faced so far have cost him up to 40 points, adding to his frustration.
The Ducati rider has expressed that his main concern is the lack of rear grip, which prevents him from maximizing the performance of his motorcycle. This issue has been complicated, as Ducati riders have to heavily rely on the rear tire to compensate for the limitations of the front, leading to increased degradation.
“I’m not in the summer break with a satisfactory feeling, knowing we could do much more,” Bagnaia commented at Sachsenring. Regarding his performance so far, he rated the season with a 5.5, acknowledging that, despite the improvements, the grip issue remains unresolved.
Bagnaia hopes that his team can follow in Gresini’s footsteps, who found solutions for Alex Marquez, who faced similar difficulties in the early races of the season. “I am the only Ducati rider who has these problems,” he added, hoping that the summer break will allow the team to analyze and find an effective solution.
Additionally, Bagnaia recently underwent surgery on his right forearm, but he expects to be fit for the upcoming Grand Prix in Silverstone, scheduled for August 8th. The 2026 season is his last with Ducati, as his transfer to the Aprilia team for the 2027 season has been confirmed, where he will share the track with Marco Bezzecchi.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
