Francesco Bagnaia has labelled his 2026 MotoGP struggles ‘humiliating and mortifying’ as he admits he cannot see a quick solution with Ducati.
Bagnaia has had a disappointing two seasons since missing out on the 2024 world title, but his current campaign reached a new low at Aragon.
The Italian won his first MotoGP race at the Motorland track in 2021, but was well off the pace throughout the weekend as he failed to pick up any points.
A crash from which Bagnaia admitted he was fortunate not to get hurt compounded an 11th-placed finish in the sprint, as his difficulties finding rear grip continued.
“I’m okay, but unfortunately I lost the rear while cornering, and then the front locked up,” Bagnaia said via GPOne.
“It was a different kind of crash than the one at Silverstone; I still don’t have an explanation for that incident.
“Unfortunately, today I shifted gears too early, and the moment the load came on, the front end locked up. It still turned out okay, because if I’d gone all out, I could have gotten hurt.”
After a sixth DNF of the season, Bagnaia seems none-the-wiser as to the solution to his problems no matter how much he has tried to work with Ducati.
The two-time world champion also called the period “one of the lowest points” of his career so far and believes, if anything, the situation is getting worse.
“I give it everything I’ve got in every situation, and whenever I come back to the garage, I try to be as clear as possible with the team to find a solution—which, unfortunately, hasn’t materialised yet.
“The fact is, you push hard, only to end up on the ground, even though you’re a second slower.
“All of this is humiliating and mortifying; I think it’s one of the lowest points of my career, since I don’t see a way out and the situation has actually gotten worse in the last two races.
“I’ve given Ducati everything I could, and it’s hard to accept that this is how things have turned out, despite my commitment and all the data I review every day. With today’s bike, I can’t ride naturally, and then I crash.”
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