Bagnaia Hopes Mugello Podium Signals End to MotoGP Struggles

Francesco Bagnaia is hopeful that his podium finish at the Italian Grand Prix could represent a turning point in his MotoGP campaign.

The Ducati factory rider delivered his strongest performance of 2026 at Mugello, leading the first half of the race from sixth on the grid before settling into third place behind Aprilia teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.

This was his first podium of the season without relying on a penalty to another rider, marking a clear improvement after a challenging start to the year.

Bagnaia has struggled for consistency since the beginning of the 2025 season, with occasional victories and podiums unable to mask an overall dip in form.

Nevertheless, over the last five rounds of 2026 he has broken into the top three in either the sprint or the Sunday race.

When asked whether the Mugello weekend could signal the end of a “long nightmare” in MotoGP, the Italian replied: “I really hope so. Since the start of the season we have adopted a different mindset. I’m giving everything in the factory, training hard, to reach the level we used to have.

Our bike now behaves differently, and we are shaping it so I can ride at 100 % of my ability. This result is a strong starting point. If we keep this momentum, I promise we will return to fight for wins again.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Rather than seeking an overnight breakthrough, Bagnaia says he is working with Ducati to gradually climb back up the grid.

He sees tangible signs of progress but acknowledges that challenges remain before he can contend for victories again.

“We are clearly struggling,” he admitted. “We lack rear‑grip compared with other Ducatis, so we are exploring alternative solutions. In the last two seasons the bike’s balance changed, and we are trying to restore it to my preferred setting. The results are starting to appear.

We are moving forward step by step, and I’m confident that in the future we will be fighting at the front again.”

When asked where the biggest deficiency lies, especially against the dominant Aprilias, the two‑time champion explained: “We are missing rear grip. Aprilia riders can get on the throttle earlier because they can turn more sharply.

We are working on that, and the next race at Balaton offers a high‑grip surface, which should help. The upcoming rounds at Brno and Assen also provide good grip, so we expect to be competitive.”

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