Valentino Rossi asks Ducati “to put in the same effort as Francesco Bagnaia” to help him in MotoGP

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.

“Pecco has a very good attitude this year,” Rossi told Sky Italia. “We train together often, and he is truly giving it his all.

“He genuinely wants to get back to winning with Ducati, and that is the right mindset. The results were evident at Le Mans: he took pole position – though unfortunately he messed up both starts—but otherwise, he could have won both races. In fact, he finished second in the Sprint, and in the main race, he crashed due to a brake issue.

“The season is still long, and Pecco likely won’t be with Ducati next year; however, I would like to see Ducati commit themselves just as much as Pecco does in the effort to get back to the front.

“I’ve noticed that, following the events of last year, the atmosphere between them has cooled significantly. But Pecco is giving it his best shot, and I hope everyone at Ducati does the same, because the potential to return to winning ways is definitely there.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Bagnaia is Ducati’s most successful rider in MotoGP, having won two titles and scored 31 grands prix so far aboard the Desmosedici.

But his status as the Italian manufacturer’s favourite child was upended last year when Marquez joined from Gresini and immediately romped to the title.

However, Marquez’s injury troubles in 2026 have put the spotlight back on Bagnaia, with Ducati again relying on the Italian amid an intense title challenge from MotoGP’s new benchmark Aprilia.

Bagnaia distanced himself from Rossi’s comments, insisting that he feels Ducati is just as committed as he is on finding a solution for his woes.

“What Vale said is just assumption,” he responded. “He sees what I do at home, but he doesn’t see what they’re doing at Ducati.

“We’re all working hard, but it’s obvious that after last year – which was full of major difficulties – we’re working to try to regain our balance.

“It’s not easy, because we haven’t yet found a basic set-up for this bike, unlike Fabio Di Giannantonio. So we’re exploring every avenue to get there.

“We’re taking small steps, maybe a little late, but we’re getting there. In any case, I feel Ducati’s commitment behind me.”

Photos from Catalan GP – Saturday