Bagnaia\u2019s factory Ducati<\/a> teammate Marc Marquez even won last Sunday\u2019s 2025 Austrian GP in 42 minutes and 11.006 seconds. The 32-year-old\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Marquez\u2019s Red Bull Ring double even further stretched his lead in the riders\u2019 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).<\/p>\n So, Casey Stoner<\/a> 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 \u201calways do\u201d at the first sign of a rider starting to struggle in the works team.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Stoner is adamant that Ducati should change their ways and support Bagnaia through their two-time champion\u2019s tricky patch, though. The Australian also thinks it would send a \u201cclear\u201d message about who those in charge of Ducati truly are if they were to replace Bagnaia now.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s difficult to remove Pecco from this position because it\u2019s something Ducati always do,\u201d Stoner has outlined to AS<\/a>. \u201cYou have a bad moment, and they kick you out. And I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the right thing to do.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand, but you have to give people the opportunity to recover. They say, \u2018OK, we\u2019ll see each other.\u2019 I think it\u2019s important that they don\u2019t just put someone else on the bike.<\/p>\n \u201cPecco 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.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it wouldn\u2019t 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\u2019s not right. Pecco deserves respect.\u201d<\/p>\n Ducati may already be looking at replacements for Pecco Bagnaia<\/p>\n Bagnaia won the 2022 and 2023 riders\u2019 championships to hand Ducati their first titles since Stoner secured the Bologna Bullets\u2019 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.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Everything to know about Ducati from the MotoGP team\u2019s riders to hierarchy<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u201cmore motivated\u201d as the No1 at Aprilia<\/a>, Honda or Yamaha, as well.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s crew chief is open to helping Bagnaia<\/a>, too, having taken seven podiums all term.<\/p>\n![\"Ducati](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2230608206-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography\/Getty ImagesCasey Stoner fears Ducati will replace Francesco Bagnaia as it is what they \u2018always do\u2019<\/p>\n