Overview
- Ducati confirmed on Wednesday that Francesco Bagnaia will leave the factory team at the end of the 2026 season after eight years with the marque.
- Aprilia announced on Thursday that Bagnaia has signed a four‑year contract, running from 2027 through 2030, and will team with fellow VR46 academy rider Marco Bezzecchi.
- Bagnaia joins Aprilia with a decorated Ducati record of two MotoGP titles (2022 and 2023), 31 wins, 63 podiums and 28 pole positions, which underpins the move's competitive significance.
- Reports say Ducati will fill Bagnaia’s factory seat with Pedro Acosta and that Jorge Martín will leave Aprilia, likely for Yamaha, but those rider moves have not been uniformly confirmed by the teams.
- Teams frame the transfers as part of longer‑term strategies as manufacturers prepare for 2027 rule changes, including reduced engine capacity and tightened aerodynamic limits that will reshape bike development.