Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesBagnaia backs the GP24 to remain competitive well beyond 2024Francesco Bagnaia has no doubt that Ducati’s two-year-old GP24 would still be a race-winning bike in 2026.After dominating most of his previous campaign, Bagnaia has struggled to find his form this year and is still searching for answers as to why things haven’t clicked into place.The switch from the GP24 prototype – which was widely considered one of the best bikes on the grid – hasn’t been an easy transition. Bagnaia hasn’t looked comfortable since making the move.Ducati’s Marc Marquez was consistently setting the pace, while Bagnaia found it difficult to challenge for podiums regularly.He returned to full form at last year’s edition of the Japanese Grand Prix, producing a perfect weekend that saw him secure pole position and victory in both Sprint race and Grand Prix.It later came to light that Bagnaia was using older-spec parts, and his form regressed yet again for the final five rounds of last season.Photo by Hazrin Yeob Men Shah/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesFrancesco Bagnaia is certain that the Ducati GP24 could still win races in MotoGPBagnaia, speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, addressed the difficulties he and his teammate have faced so far this season.The two-time world champion noted that Marc and Alex Marquez are now experiencing similar issues with the GP26, a contrast to last year when both were leading the championship standings.Speaking to GPOne, he explained: “Last year I was struggling quite a bit, while he was over the moon and absolutely thrilled with the bike.
This year it doesn’t seem that way, and our comments are more similar.”He continued: “Even to Alex, who was very competitive last year and is now struggling a lot. Right now, we’re all pretty much in the same boat. That’s why we’re working together to improve.”The Italian rider also believes that even two years later, he could still win races on his old bike if regulations allowed.Bagnaia said: “Last year, I was complaining about the same things as Di Giannantonio; Alex Marquez had the GP24 which is a bike that would still win today without any problems, while Marc was doing quite well, never complaining about the issues I’d had up until Indonesia,” he added.“Then he started having them too, before [his injury].
He was really struggling that weekend in Indonesia. This year, we all have more or less the same feeling. Di Giannantonio is doing a bit better.
He’s adapted well to this bike, and the stability has helped him improve.“As for Marc and Alex, they’re struggling more because this bike is hard to stop. It’s kind of the problem I had last year, and after a year of constantly trying, in the end, you try to put aside what you had—which was definitely better—and work with what you have.“Anyway, we’re all working together to try to figure out what to do. We talked several times in Austin and Goiania to clearly understand what to ask Ducati while moving in the same direction, and we’re trying to do that.”Read more:After confirming 2026 exit, Alex Rins gives Yamaha the silent treatmentDucati expected to receive MotoGP concessions for the first time after slow start to 2026Claudio Domenicali pins Marc Marquez’s 2026 struggles on early testing kinks