Overview
- Rossi, speaking Saturday at the Catalan GP on Sky Italia, urged Ducati to “put in the same effort” as Pecco Bagnaia to help him return to the front.
- Bagnaia responded that Rossi’s view was “just assumption” and said he feels Ducati is committed as he works to find a base setup on the GP26.
- The two-time champion is ninth in the standings without a grand prix podium this year, though he took pole at Le Mans, finished runner-up in three sprints, and climbed from 13th to sixth in the Barcelona sprint.
- Ducati has decided to bring Pedro Acosta in for 2027 to partner Marc Marquez, while Bagnaia is widely reported to be set for Aprilia.
- A disputed Le Mans crash still hangs over the narrative, with Rossi calling it a brake issue and supplier Brembo saying it found no anomalies.