Bagnaia: Ducati Has More Potential Than Aprilia at Aragon

 

Francesco Bagnaia

Bagnaia Sees Ducati Advantage at Aragon: “We Have More Potential Than Aprilia”

Francesco Bagnaia believes Ducati could have a stronger package than Aprilia at the 2026 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix, thanks to the circuit’s high grip and fast left-hand corners.

Francesco Bagnaia arrives at MotorLand Aragon hoping to put a difficult Silverstone weekend firmly behind him.

The Ducati rider endured a frustrating British Grand Prix, where his physical condition and problems with the motorcycle made the weekend particularly challenging. However, Aragon could provide an opportunity for Bagnaia and Ducati to recover their confidence.

The Italian rider has a strong history at the Spanish circuit. It was at Aragon in 2021 that Bagnaia claimed his first MotoGP victory, beating Marc Marquez after a thrilling battle. He also stood on the podium at the circuit last year.

More importantly for this weekend, Bagnaia believes the characteristics of MotorLand Aragon could favour Ducati over Aprilia.

Bagnaia Predicts a Ducati Advantage Over Aprilia

Bagnaia is convinced that Ducati has a particularly competitive package for the Aragon circuit.

The combination of the track layout and its high level of grip is one of the main reasons behind his confidence.

According to the Ducati rider, Aragon should suit the characteristics of the Desmosedici better than some other circuits on the MotoGP calendar.

The high-grip conditions could be especially important, while the circuit's layout also works well with Bagnaia's riding preferences.

Although the weather is expected to be hot, Bagnaia does not believe the conditions should create major problems for the Ducati riders.

Why Aragon Could Suit Ducati

MotorLand Aragon features several long and fast left-hand corners, something Bagnaia particularly appreciates.

The Ducati rider explained that he generally finds tighter left-hand corners more difficult. Aragon is different because many of its left-hand turns are relatively open, fast and flowing.

That makes the Spanish circuit unusual compared with other tracks where left-hand corners dominate.

Bagnaia therefore sees Aragon as one of the venues where he can feel particularly comfortable on the motorcycle.     

Bagnaia Still Struggling With His Right Arm

Despite his optimism about Ducati's potential, Bagnaia is still dealing with physical problems.

The rider underwent surgery on his right arm before the British Grand Prix, and the area continues to swell and cause discomfort when he has to apply force while riding.

Bagnaia explained that the problem is not a lack of strength itself. Instead, the difficulty comes when he needs to push with the affected arm.

Pain medication can help him manage the situation, but the physical issue remains something he must deal with during the weekend.

Fortunately for Bagnaia, Aragon's predominantly left-hand layout could reduce the impact of the problem.

The circuit should place less stress on his right arm compared with tracks requiring more demanding right-hand corners.

Silverstone Is Already Behind Him

Bagnaia does not want to spend any more time thinking about what happened at Silverstone.

The British Grand Prix was particularly difficult for the Ducati rider for several reasons. His arm injury was one problem, while the absence of his crew chief Cristian Gabarrini made the situation even more complicated.

Bagnaia struggled to maintain good rear-tire performance for more than a few laps.

Even during time-attack attempts, he found himself fighting the rear tyre after only a short period of running.

For this reason, he described the weekend as a disaster.

However, Gabarrini is back with the team at Aragon, giving Bagnaia a better opportunity to work on the motorcycle and rebuild his confidence.

The Confidence Bagnaia Wants Back

For Bagnaia, the most important objective at Aragon is not necessarily to win.

His immediate target is to regain confidence in the Desmosedici.

During the strongest periods of his partnership with Ducati, Bagnaia could complete long runs of 12 or even 15 laps during practice without needing to return to the pits because of problems with the motorcycle.

That working method has become more difficult during the last two seasons.

Bagnaia says he misses the feeling that allowed him to continuously lap the circuit without being interrupted by problems with the bike.

Why Bike Feeling Matters So Much

When Bagnaia has confidence in the motorcycle, completing long practice runs becomes almost natural.

When that feeling disappears, however, even four consecutive laps can become difficult because something prevents him from continuing the session.

Restoring that confidence would be extremely valuable ahead of Sunday's race.

For Bagnaia, the ability to complete long, consistent runs is an important part of preparing for the Grand Prix.

Bagnaia Remembers His First MotoGP Victory

Aragon also carries special significance in Bagnaia's career.

In 2021, the Ducati rider secured his first MotoGP victory at the circuit after an intense battle with Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia remembers that weekend as a major turning point.

The Ducati team approached the event differently from previous races and worked extremely hard throughout the weekend.

One of the key memories for Bagnaia was completing almost the entire FP4 session on the same set of tyres, allowing him to build confidence and prepare thoroughly for the race.

The Grand Prix itself became a spectacular duel.

Marquez remained extremely close behind Bagnaia for much of the race, with the gap staying within a fraction of a second.

Eventually, Bagnaia secured his maiden MotoGP victory.

Winning his first race at Aragon, in such a close fight, made the achievement even more memorable.

Bagnaia Says He Is a Better Rider Now

Five years after that breakthrough victory, Bagnaia believes he has developed considerably as a rider.

His experience has increased, while the difficult periods of his career have also taught him important lessons.

He therefore considers himself a better rider today than he was in 2021.

However, there is still one aspect of his former approach that he would like to recover: the working method that allowed him to feel completely comfortable with his motorcycle.

Bagnaia believes that confidence remains essential to his ability to prepare effectively for a race.

Can Bagnaia Fight for Another Podium?

Bagnaia also finished on the podium at Aragon last year, giving him another reason to approach the weekend with optimism.

He feels slightly better than he did at this stage previously and hopes another strong result is possible.

Nevertheless, he is trying to remain realistic.

The problems experienced at Silverstone mean Ducati first needs to understand how the motorcycle behaves at Aragon before setting more ambitious expectations.

Bagnaia believes a top-five finish is a realistic target.

A podium would obviously be welcome, but rebuilding confidence and understanding the bike are currently more important objectives.

Why Aragon Works Better for Bagnaia Than Other Left-Hand Tracks

Bagnaia's preference for Aragon's layout is linked to the nature of its corners.

He normally struggles more when left-hand circuits contain numerous tight turns.

Aragon offers something different.

Many of its left-hand corners are long, fast and open, allowing Bagnaia to feel more comfortable.

He cited circuits such as Valencia and Sachsenring as examples where the left-hand corners can be tighter and therefore less favourable to his riding style.

Phillip Island is another circuit with many left-hand corners that Bagnaia enjoys.

However, wind conditions at the Australian venue can create additional difficulties for him.

Aragon does not present the same problem, and its combination of strong braking zones and fast, open left-hand corners makes it a track that suits him particularly well.

Bagnaia Also Discusses MotoGP's New Audio System

During his appearance ahead of the Aragon weekend, Bagnaia was also asked about the new communication audio system.

He had not yet formed a final opinion because he was due to test it later that day.

The Ducati rider acknowledged that the system represents a significant change and said riders need to understand how useful it will actually be.

He also expressed concerns about the physical comfort of having something pressing against the ears for a long period.

Bagnaia indicated that he would prefer an earbud or earplug-style solution, particularly because previous tests with a different system still allowed considerable external noise to enter.

For him, comfort will be an important consideration if rider-to-team communication becomes part of MotoGP.

Aragon Gives Ducati a Chance to Fight Back

The 2026 Aragon Grand Prix therefore represents an important opportunity for Bagnaia and Ducati.

The rider is still managing the effects of his right-arm injury, but the predominantly left-hand nature of the circuit should help reduce the physical strain.

At the same time, Bagnaia believes Ducati's motorcycle should perform strongly because of Aragon's high grip and layout.

His confidence is also supported by his personal record at the circuit, including his first MotoGP victory in 2021 and last year's podium.

Still, Bagnaia is keeping expectations under control.

A top-five result is considered a realistic goal, while the bigger priority is to rediscover the feeling and confidence that once allowed him to complete long practice runs without interruption.

If Ducati can provide that feeling again, Bagnaia believes Aragon could become one of the best opportunities to challenge Aprilia.

And with the Spanish circuit offering characteristics that he believes favour Ducati, the battle between the two manufacturers could become one of the key stories of the MotoGP weekend.

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