Francesco Bagnaia suffered yet another blow to his confidence in the 2025 MotoGP season in last Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, as the Ducati rider could only finish P8.
The Red Bull Ring had been the 28-year-old’s playground in recent seasons, with victories in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Bagnaia also won the Sprint Race at the Austrian GP during 2023 and 2024. Yet he only achieved P8 in the 2025 Austrian GP and was also 12.486s shy of the lead.
Bagnaia’s factory Ducati teammate Marc Marquez even won last Sunday’s 2025 Austrian GP in 42 minutes and 11.006 seconds. The 32-year-old’s race time was just 0.167s faster than it took Bagnaia in 2024. Marquez also won the Sprint 3.697s quicker than Bagnaia did in 2024.
Marquez’s Red Bull Ring double even further stretched his lead in the riders’ championship to 142 points over his brother Gresini star Alex Marquez in P2 and 197 points over Bagnaia in P3. Bagnaia is closer to Marco Bezzechi of Aprilia in P4 at 43 points than he is to Alex (55).
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesCasey Stoner fears Ducati will replace Francesco Bagnaia as it is what they ‘always do’
So, Casey Stoner now fears Bagnaia will face the same situation that met him back in 2010 when Ducati looked to replace him without the Australian knowing, as it is what the Borgo Panigale brand “always do” at the first sign of a rider starting to struggle in the works team.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
TEAMBIKERIDER 1RIDER 2ApriliaAprilia RS-GPJorge MartinMarco BezzecchiTrackhouseAprilia RS-GPAi OguraRaul FernandezDucatiDucati Desmosedici GPMarc MarquezFrancesco BagnaiaVR46Ducati Desmosedici GPFabio Di GiannantonioTBCGresiniDucati Desmosedici GPMarc MarquezFermin AldeguerHondaHonda RC213VJoan MirTBCLCRHonda RC213VTBCTBCKTMKTM RC16Pedro AcostaBrad BinderTech3KTM RC16Maverick VinalesEnea BastianiniYamahaYamaha YZR-M1Fabio QuartararoAlex RinsPramacYamaha YZR-M1Toprak RazgatlioglouTBCConfirmed 2026 MotoGP rider line-ups
Stoner is adamant that Ducati should change their ways and support Bagnaia through their two-time champion’s tricky patch, though. The Australian also thinks it would send a “clear” message about who those in charge of Ducati truly are if they were to replace Bagnaia now.
“I think it’s difficult to remove Pecco from this position because it’s something Ducati always do,” Stoner has outlined to AS. “You have a bad moment, and they kick you out. And I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.
“I understand, but you have to give people the opportunity to recover. They say, ‘OK, we’ll see each other.’ I think it’s important that they don’t just put someone else on the bike.
“Pecco had given them their only championships until this past year, and then he fought for the last one with [Jorge] Martin until the end. He has worked solely for Ducati for many years, and if they are willing to get rid of him, it would be clear what kind of people they are.
“For me, it wouldn’t be right. What happened to me was that when I was out for a few races due to problems, they looked for a replacement for me without telling me anything, and that’s not right. Pecco deserves respect.”
Ducati may already be looking at replacements for Pecco Bagnaia
Bagnaia won the 2022 and 2023 riders’ championships to hand Ducati their first titles since Stoner secured the Bologna Bullets’ first crown back in 2007. Only 10 points also prevented the Turin native from winning the 2024 title, as Martin won the title on a Ducati for Pramac.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Ducati from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
Now, however, he is the No2 at Ducati to Marquez, who has won nine of the first 13 Grands Prix and 12/13 Sprint Races since joining Bagnaia in Borgo Panigale this term. Jorge Lorenzo thinks Bagnaia would be “more motivated” as the No1 at Aprilia, Honda or Yamaha, as well.
Bagnaia has finished back-to-back Grands Prix off the podium for the first time in 68 rounds now, as well, having also only managed P4 in the Czech GP before the summer break. Marc Marquez’s crew chief is open to helping Bagnaia, too, having taken seven podiums all term.
So, as Bagnaia’s plight persists all the while Marquez dominates with the same GP25 as the Turin native, Ducati may already be exploring replacements to Stoner’s dismay. Ducati have held talks with Fabio Di Giannantonio about a possible factory promotion for the VR46 star.