Two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia signs with Ducati Corse for two more seasons, which will see him aboard the factory Desmosedici GP through to the end of the 2026 MotoGP season.
According to a press release from Ducati: “Just days before the start of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship, Ducati Corse and Francesco Bagnaia solidified their future together by putting pen to paper, announcing the signing of an agreement that binds the two-time MotoGP World Champion to the Borgo Panigale manufacturer for the 2025 and 2026 seasons as well.”
“I am so happy to continue racing with the team of my dreams,” said Bagnaia. “Wearing these colours is an honour for me. It’s fantastic and a source of pride. Together with Ducati, my team, and all the guys at Ducati Corse, we’ve achieved incredible things. In these three more years (including 2024) ahead of us, we’ll continue to give our best to achieve as much success as possible. I am overjoyed and ready to hit the track in Qatar for the first race of the year.”
Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati Motor Holding, was equally happy with Bagnaia’s re-signing, stating, “Pecco is truly the perfect rider for Ducati. He represents our values at their best: style, elegance, and performance. Not only is he fast, determined, and tenacious on track, but he also stands out for his elegance and education off the track. I am very happy for this renewal, which I am sure Ducatisti all over the world will welcome with enthusiasm.”
The last word one to Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager, who said, “We are extremely happy to have Bagnaia with us again for 2025 and 2026. Together, we have written an important page of motorcycling history: Pecco was the first Italian rider to win a World Title in MotoGP with an Italian bike, our Desmosedici GP. Together, we brought back a Riders’ World Title that had been missing for 15 years, and we did it again last year. He is a two-time World Champion and has proven on more than one occasion that he truly deserves the number 1 on the fairing of his bike. In addition to these results, Bagnaia continues to demonstrate that he is in perfect harmony with his bike and team. For all these reasons, it was natural for us to want to continue with him. Therefore, we look forward to this new chapter together, confident that we can achieve other important results.”
Bagnaia has an impressive record riding for the Ducati Lenovo Team since 2021, a year in which he narrowly missed out on winning the World Title, finishing as runner-up.
The year 2022 marked Bagnaia’s breakthrough when he clinched his first MotoGP Riders’ World Title, also becoming the first Italian to do so on an Italian bike. Bagnaia was again crowned World Champion in 2023, thanks to another remarkable season that saw him claim 15 podiums, 7 victories, and 7 pole positions.
The 2024 MotoGP season starts this weekend at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
PHOTOS: GOLD&GOOSE
