Pecco Bagnaia: reset complete — the promise to Ducati fans for 2026

Bagnaia has already filed away a 2025 that fell below expectations; for next year he’s confident he can get back to the top.

Many expected a thrilling all-red Ducati duel for the final MotoGP title, but Marc Marquez dominated and Pecco Bagnaia ran into unexpected difficulties. After a first half of the season in which he still managed to be consistently on the podium or at least within the top 3–4 positions, from the Austrian Grand Prix onward he entered a rough patch in which he struggled. Aside from a few individual flashes, like those seen at Motegi and Sepang, he toiled mightily and was never able to fully explain why he wasn’t as competitive with the Desmosedici GP25 as he had been in past years.

Naturally, Pecco was present at the “Champions in Celebration” event that Ducati organized at its Borgo Panigale headquarters to celebrate the sporting successes of 2025. On that occasion he also answered a few questions from the media, showing he’s pumped for 2026: "I have to say the reset has already been done — he told Sky Sport MotoGP — and I’m ready to get started. It will be a crucial year in terms of results; I definitely want to start better and achieve more. You always learn something in difficult times, and I think we did learn something, especially in trying to manage certain situations."

Bagnaia reiterated that the mindset with which he approached last season was no different from the one he used in previous years, but it didn’t go as he hoped, and for 2026 he aims to perform differently: "The approach has always stayed the same; it’s the results that changed. For next year it will be important to reflect carefully on what was done in 2025 and try to improve in the toughest situations."

When he took the stage in front of cheering fans, he also made a promise for 2026—an obvious one, perhaps, but one he absolutely intends to keep: "That I’ll do better than this year."

Improving on the 2025 results can only be a goal for the Piedmontese rider, who also aims to secure a renewal with Ducati. Like most of his peers, his contract expires at the end of 2026; to stay in red in 2027, he knows what he has to do.

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