Francesco Bagnaia has rejected suggestions that Ducati is preventing him from making bike setup changes, insisting that his comments during a private conversation with Fabio Di Giannantonio were taken out of context.
The two-time MotoGP world champion addressed the controversy at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, expressing frustration over how Spanish broadcaster DAZN shared the footage and the speculation that followed.
The incident began after the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, where Bagnaia was filmed speaking with Di Giannantonio in the TV pen following a difficult race. During their conversation, Di Giannantonio suggested that Bagnaia try a basic bike setup, to which the Ducati rider replied, "They won't let me do it."
The comment quickly spread across social media, with some interpreting it as evidence that Ducati was preventing Bagnaia from making adjustments to his Desmosedici GP bike.
However, Bagnaia later explained that his response referred to setup changes he had already tried several times, rather than Ducati refusing to support his development efforts.
"What I meant is that I tried to put and remove the things many times already, that Ducati is not allowing me to do anymore, but just because I already did many times, and I don't want to continue this kind of thing," he said.
Source: Crash.net
Bagnaia acknowledged that he had expressed himself poorly during a frustrating period, but stressed that his words were not intended to suggest that Ducati was withholding support.
The Italian rider also directed strong criticism at DAZN for broadcasting the conversation, describing the decision as "totally unrespected" and a "disaster". He argued that the relationship between journalists and riders should be built on mutual respect and trust.
"The relationship between journalists and riders needs to have respect inside," Bagnaia said, highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with the media.
Despite the controversy, Bagnaia confirmed that his relationship with Ducati remains strong. He had already discussed the matter with team management following the San Marino GP, explaining the circumstances behind his comments.
According to Bagnaia, the team understood that his words came from frustration rather than a serious disagreement over the direction of bike development. He also maintained that Ducati continues to support him, with setup and development decisions being approached collaboratively.
The incident highlights how quickly a private conversation can become a major talking point in MotoGP, particularly when a rider is struggling with performance. For Bagnaia, the priority was to clarify his comments and make clear that his frustrations should not be mistaken for a breakdown in his relationship with Ducati.
