Ducati finally announces its split with Bagnaia

Ducati has officially announced its split with Pecco Bagnaia, opening the door for Pedro Acosta's arrival as Marc Marquez's 2027 MotoGP team-mate and for Aprilia to announce its deal with Bagnaia.

The Race learned that Bagnaia had committed to Aprilia for his MotoGP future four months ago during the final pre-season test at Buriram.

But like so many other 2027 deals, it has not been officially confirmed in the months since then because the impasse between new MotoGP owner Liberty Media and the teams over future contracts to participate in the series dragged on until last week.

With that deal finally done, a horde of 2027 rider announcements were expected in quick succession this week, but so far Ducati confirming Marquez's new two-year deal yesterday and Bagnaia's exit today have been the only official reveals.

It's likely that many more - including Aprilia's announcement of Bagnaia - will follow when the Dutch Grand Prix weekend commences at Assen on Thursday.

Bagnaia has been part of Ducati's system since he joined the MotoGP grid with its satellite team Pramac in 2019.

He and team-mate Jack Miller were both promoted to the factory team for 2021 and it was Bagnaia who emerged as Ducati's new talisman - coming close to catching Fabio Quartararo in that year's title fight after a poor start to the year, then becoming Ducati's first champion since Casey Stoner in 2007 by winning the 2022 and ‘23 championships.

“Pecco is one of those riders with whom the spark ignited immediately,” said Ducati MotoGP general manager Gigi Dall'Igna in the statement announcing the split.

“We sought him out and wanted him from a very young age to build a project around him. He's fast and, above all, clever.

“The goal was to bring the Desmosedici GP to its full potential. We achieved it. Thanks to the work of the entire team and the technology, but above all thanks to Pecco's talent.”

But Bagnaia was beaten to the 2024 title by Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin, throwing away too many points that season with errors.

And then Marquez's arrival as his team-mate completely changed the intra-team picture.

Bagnaia was only fifth in last year's riders' championship, 257 points behind Marquez despite Marquez missing the final four events with injury.

His form fluctuations became bizarre - typified by completely dominating the Motegi weekend at the start of October, then qualifying only 16th at Mandalika a week later.

The 2026 season has generally been better, if still a far cry from his heyday. He won the sprint at Brno last weekend and was third in the grand prix having led much of the distance.

Joining Aprilia gives Bagnaia a realistic shot at getting back to his best form consistently.

He should gel with Massimo Rivola's management style given their personalities and will be paired with friend and fellow Valentino Rossi protege Marco Bezzecchi in the factory team, taking the seat Martin will vacate with his move to Yamaha to replace Honda-bound Fabio Quartararo.

And although MotoGP is heading into a new rules era for 2027 and changing from Michelin to Pirelli tyres, the characteristics of the current Aprilia at least look more in tune with Bagnaia's riding style than what the Ducati has become of late.