Francesco Bagnaia has emerged from the Sepang pre-season test encouraged by the progress of Ducati’s 2026 MotoGP prototype, describing a renewed sense of confidence after struggling with braking issues throughout the 2025 season.
The two-time world champion arrived in Malaysia with positive expectations following an initial test of the prototype last November. Those early impressions were reinforced during the three-day session, where Bagnaia immediately felt comfortable on the new machine.
“In the winter, I was hoping things would go well, and honestly they did,” Bagnaia said. “From the start of the day, I really enjoyed riding. I quickly understood that my feeling was better, especially in braking.”
Braking performance was Bagnaia’s main concern last season, as he often struggled with instability and excess pushing on corner entry. Ducati’s latest development appears to have addressed the issue, delivering the improvement he had been seeking.
“In braking entry, I felt that the bike was stopping properly and not pushing,” he explained. “That was something I asked for a lot last year. I have to thank Ducati for helping me find that feeling.”
The improved stability has allowed Bagnaia to approach corners with greater confidence and precision, offering potential for stronger race pace and consistency during the upcoming season.
Source: Sky Sports
Testing conditions in Sepang were mixed, with rain affecting running on the final afternoon. Despite limited track time, Bagnaia remained upbeat and continued his evaluation programme.
“Yesterday was a relief day. Today was more unlucky with the conditions and the rain,” he said.
Even so, Bagnaia recorded a competitive lap time, finishing eighth overall, just four tenths of a second behind session leader Joan Mir. He achieved this while running a race-focused setup and carrying a heavier fuel load.
During the test, Bagnaia also assessed a new fairing and compared performance on different tyre conditions. Much of Ducati’s aerodynamic development work was handled by teammate Marc Marquez, allowing Bagnaia to concentrate on refining his riding feel and confirming setup choices.
With one day of testing remaining, Bagnaia still plans to complete a low-fuel time attack and a possible race simulation, depending on weather conditions.
However, he believes the most important objective has already been achieved.
“It was important for me that braking was better than last year,” he said. “As soon as I started, I felt that they improved that area.”
The early progress has given Bagnaia renewed confidence and suggests Ducati’s 2026 package could provide a strong foundation for the season ahead.
