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Valentino Rossi asks Ducati “to put in the same effort as Francesco Bagnaia” to help him in MotoGP
TL;DR
Valentino Rossi urges Ducati to match the support given to Francesco Bagnaia in his recovery during a challenging MotoGP season. Bagnaia, a two-time champion, has struggled to maintain consistent performance in 2025.
Key points
- Valentino Rossi calls for Ducati's support for Bagnaia
- Francesco Bagnaia struggles in the 2025 MotoGP season
- Frictions have arisen between Bagnaia and Ducati
Mentioned in this story
Valentino RossiFrancesco BagnaiaDucati
Motorsport photo
Valentino Rossi believes Ducati needs to put the same effort into Francesco Bagnaia’s recovery as the rider himself amid the latter’s difficult spell in MotoGP.
Once the best-performing rider within Ducati’s roster, Bagnaia has found it difficult to consistently fight at the front since the start of the 2025 season.
While there have been flashes of pace and the occasional victory, the two-time MotoGP champion has failed to make a definitive breakthrough, leading to increasing friction between both sides over the course of last year.
Ducati has already made a decision to replace the two-time MotoGP champion in 2027, bringing in Pedro Acosta from KTM to partner Marc Marquez.
Rossi believes that while Bagnaia is giving his best in the last season of their partnership, Ducati is not as committed as his protege in helping him turn around his 2026 campaign.
"He has a very good attitude this year [and] he's really giving it his all. The results are visible because he had a great weekend at Le Mans,” the MotoGP legend told Sky Italia. “The season is still long, and he probably won't be racing for Ducati again next year.
“I'd like Ducati to put in the same effort as Pecco to try to get back to the front.
“Like in a marriage where you love each other so much [but] when bad things happen like last year and the results don't come, Pecco made some comments. I see that tempers have cooled a bit. But he's trying, and I hope everyone at Ducati is trying too, because I think the potential to win again is there."
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Q&A
What does Valentino Rossi want from Ducati regarding Francesco Bagnaia?
Valentino Rossi wants Ducati to invest the same level of effort in supporting Francesco Bagnaia's recovery as Bagnaia is putting into it himself.
How has Francesco Bagnaia performed in the 2025 MotoGP season?
Francesco Bagnaia has struggled to consistently compete at the front in the 2025 MotoGP season, despite having moments of speed and occasional victories.
What issues have arisen between Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati?
Increasing friction has developed between Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati due to his inconsistent performance and the lack of a definitive breakthrough in his results.
