Ducati drama: Francesco Bagnaia walks out in anger following dramatic French GP crash

Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

Francesco Bagnaia’s anger was hard to miss after crashing out of the Spanish Grand Prix while running second.

Bagnaia had shown promise early on, moving up to second after passing KTM’s Pedro Acosta on lap seven. Although he lost the lead off the line, his pace in the opening laps looked encouraging.

However, his progress stalled before he lost the front at turn two, ending his race early. It marks eight DNFs in ten races for the two-time MotoGP champion.

Francesco Bagnaia’s frustration after fresh Ducati setback at French Grand Prix

Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

Following Bagnaia’s crash, Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi was seen leaving the pit wall immediately. With Marc Marquez already ruled out due to injury, the team had just one bike in the race at Le Mans.

Marquez had suffered a broken foot following a heavy highside during the Sprint race, putting added pressure on Bagnaia to deliver. Instead, Ducati’s podium drought has now extended to 10 races.

The 29-year-old made his way back to the garage and was shown on MotoGP’s world feed leaving still wearing his helmet, with Tardozzi walking in the opposite direction. He then went straight back to his paddock room.

Bagnaia is expected to join Aprilia for the 2027 season after Ducati opted to replace him with Acosta.

Questions over Bagnaia’s Aprilia move after another Ducati setback

Before the weekend even started, Bagnaia admitted he was “struggling,” feeling as if he’d been stuck in a rut for more than a year.

But there were signs of progress. He took pole position for the first time since Malaysia last year and followed it up with a podium in the Sprint race, saying he finally felt able to ride at his “limit” again.