Pecco Bagnaia appears to be heading into the 2026 MotoGP season with renewed confidence after a difficult campaign in 2025, according to Ducati MotoGP team manager Davide Tardozzi. Tardozzi described Bagnaia as “completely different” compared with last year, suggesting the two‑time world champion has regained the mental strength and focus that made him so successful in 2024.
Bagnaia endured his most challenging season with the factory Ducati in 2025, winning just two grands prix and finishing fifth in the championship, a significant drop from his form in 2024 when he won 11 races and narrowly missed out on a third straight title. Meanwhile his teammate Marc Marquez dominated the campaign to secure the world championship on identical machinery.
Source: Cycle World
Tardozzi said that since returning from the winter break, Bagnaia has shown a “different mentality” that reminds him of the rider he was during his more successful years. He added that Bagnaia had regained the right frame of mind following testing at Valencia late last year, and that the team is confident he will be a strong competitor in the upcoming season.
Improved confidence has also been reflected on track during early 2026 testing. Bagnaia has shared positive feedback about the new Ducati GP26 machine, which seems to address some issues he had with the previous bike, particularly in terms of front‑end feel and overall balance. This has helped him push harder in test sessions compared with last season.
Despite looking stronger at the start of the new season, Bagnaia’s future with Ducati remains a topic of speculation. The factory team is expected to run Marquez and Pedro Acosta in 2027, and there have been reports linking Bagnaia to potential seats elsewhere, including at Aprilia alongside fellow VR46 Academy rider Marco Bezzecchi.
For now, Ducati appears focused on supporting Bagnaia’s resurgence, believing that his reset approach and the improvements to the bike give him the tools to be a serious rival this season.
