Francesco Bagnaia has played down the prospect of major Ducati upgrades for this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP but expects new parts to arrive at Monday’s post-race test.
“For now, it looks like we won’t have much to test during the race weekend, but we’ll have something at the test,” Bagnaia told Sky Italia.
“I don’t know what exactly, but I just hope it’s something that helps us in the direction we need.”
DNA of the GP25 and GP26 “the same”
Aprilia riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin lead the world championship after the opening flyaway rounds, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta in third.
Fabio di Giannantonio is the top Ducati in fourth, ahead of reigning champion Marc Marquez, who has taken the factory’s only victory so far this season – a Sprint win in Brazil.
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Meanwhile, team-mate and former double MotoGP champion Bagnaia arrives at Jerez just ninth in the standings.
“I know my potential very well, I know exactly where I can be,” Bagnaia said.
“Whenever I’ve had the chance, I’ve always been at the front, and the results speak for themselves.
“I’ve been struggling for two years: the DNA of the GP25 and GP26, which is the same, doesn’t allow me to express myself fully.
“I always ride very defensively and can’t fully trust the bike, and that doesn’t allow me to be fast.
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“Plus, my strong point, which has always been braking and corner entry, I can’t exploit with this bike anymore.
“I’ve completely changed my braking system, and it’s something that limits me a lot. I just hope we can continue in the direction we’ve been in up until 2024, with a bike designed for that.
“Right now, there are other riders complaining about the same things, and I hope we can try something in this direction at the test.”
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