Francesco Bagnaia will conclude his tenure with the factory Ducati team at the end of the 2026 MotoGP season, moving to Aprilia for 2027.
Two‑time champion Bagnaia is slated to be succeeded by KTM prospect Pedro Acosta, who is poised to join Marc Márquez as Ducati’s 2027 teammate.
This outcome was widely expected, given a challenging 18‑month period for Bagnaia, who has trailed Márquez since the latter’s factory team debut in 2025.
In 2025, Márquez secured his seventh title, while Bagnaia finished fifth, 257 points adrift, marking an atypical season for a rider who had previously been Ducati’s leading figure.
Bagnaia’s contributions reignited the brand, ending a 15‑year title drought when he captured the championship in 2022 and defended it in 2023.
Ducati plans a fitting farewell to its most successful rider in history after eight seasons on the Desmosedici, six of which were with the factory squad.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Lukas Kabon / Anadolu via Getty Images
“Their partnership sparked instantly,” said Ducati sporting director Gigi Dall’Igna. “We identified him early and built a project around his talent.”
He combined speed with intelligence, and together we pushed the Desmosedici to its pinnacle.
“In any relationship it can be hard to see when a phase ends and change is required,” Dall’Igna added. “Our deep bond and mutual respect will endure, guiding us through the remainder of the season.”
Bagnaia will add 13 more Grands Prix to his 31 victories with Ducati, and the 2027 lineup will feature no Italian riders for the first time since Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden in 2010.
“The 2022 title was the culmination of Ducati’s restructuring, returning us to the forefront after a difficult era,” said CEO Claudio Domenicali, recalling Stoner’s 2007 triumph as the last Italian champion before Bagnaia.
Although Bagnaia will remain competitive with Aprilia, which leads the 2026 standings through Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, his move will pair him with Bezzecchi, while 2024 rival Martin is set to join Yamaha, a team Bagnaia considered but ultimately rejected over competitive concerns.
