What a raw deal for Pecco Bagnaia! MotoGP legend Casey Stoner isn't holding back, calling out Ducati for how they handled their two-time world champion. According to Stoner, Bagnaia "got the short straw" during his struggles with the GP25, with his legitimate complaints about the bike too easily dismissed. This dramatic twist sees Bagnaia heading to Aprilia, a move Stoner believes is crucial for his career revival.
Key Points on Bagnaia's Ducati Exit
- Casey Stoner contends Francesco Bagnaia was unfairly treated by Ducati despite delivering back-to-back titles.
- Stoner asserts Bagnaia's concerns about the GP25's performance were valid, despite Marc Marquez's championship win on the same machine.
- Ducati opted to replace the two-time champion with Pedro Acosta for the 2027 season.
- Bagnaia has signed with Aprilia, a fresh start Stoner hopes will reignite his confidence and winning form.
The Desmosedici Dilemma: Stoner Backs Bagnaia's Claims
Casey Stoner, a former Ducati champion himself, has offered a passionate defense of Francesco Bagnaia. He watched from the sidelines as Pecco battled a perplexing GP25 in 2025, a season where the Italian struggled to find his rhythm. Many in the paddock, according to Stoner, simply wrote off Bagnaia's issues as mere complaints, failing to see the underlying problems.
"Everybody lost faith in Pecco because they were saying he is just complaining, it’s the same bike, ‘blah blah’," Stoner revealed to MotoGP.com. However, Stoner held a different view. He observed Bagnaia's "smooth" riding style clashing with a machine that was "doing things it shouldn’t be doing."
A Champion's Struggle Amidst Teammate Success
The 2025 season presented a puzzling paradox. While Bagnaia, a title contender in 2024, found himself consistently off the pace, Marc Marquez, his factory Ducati teammate, stormed to the championship. Marquez clinched the title with five races to spare, showcasing the GP25's potential. This stark contrast led many to question Bagnaia's performance.
Despite securing two Grand Prix victories and several podiums, Bagnaia’s season was plagued by an alarming lack of speed and an incredible six non-finishes in the final seven races. Fabio di Giannantonio on a VR46 GP25 also struggled, further highlighting the bike's demanding nature for some riders.
Ducati's Bold Move: A New Era for Pecco
The factory Ducati team ultimately made a decisive call, announcing that Pedro Acosta would join them in 2027. This decision effectively ended Bagnaia's highly successful tenure with the Italian squad. Pecco responded by signing a new deal to join Marco Bezzecchi at Aprilia, setting the stage for a dramatic career shift.
Bagnaia's legacy at Ducati is undeniable. He delivered Ducati its first Riders' World Championship since Stoner's 2007 triumph, clinching the title in 2022 and successfully defending it in 2023. His departure marks the end of one of MotoGP's most fruitful partnerships, making Stoner's "short straw" comment resonate even more powerfully.
Aprilia: The Road to Redemption for Bagnaia
Casey Stoner is optimistic about Bagnaia's future at Aprilia. He believes the change of scenery will provide a vital injection of "new motivation" for the Italian rider. Stoner hopes Bagnaia can find a "new family" within the Aprilia camp and return to his confident, championship-winning ways.
Crucially, Bagnaia has shown flashes of his brilliant best this year on the GP26, hinting that his underlying speed and talent remain undiminished. A fresh start at Aprilia could be exactly what Pecco needs to silence the doubters and reaffirm his status as a true MotoGP superstar.
