Francesco Bagnaia says his Ducati GP26 is over-reliant on rear grip, leaving him unable to push late in races after dropping from fifth to tenth at COTA on 15 June.
The double MotoGP champion lost the Sprint victory to Aprilia’s Jorge Martín on the final lap, then faded in the grand prix despite switching to a medium rear tyre. Bagnaia finished tenth, 12 seconds behind winner Martín, after admitting he “completely finished the rear tyre” in the last two laps.
What happened at COTA?
On lap 19 of the 20-lap grand prix, Bagnaia led but was slower than nine riders including Martín, Pedro Acosta and team-mate Marc Márquez. His pace dropped so sharply that Luca Marini passed him on the outside on the final lap.
The issue mirrored his struggles in Thailand and Goiânia earlier in 2026. Bagnaia called the rear tyre’s “very strange consumption” the core problem: “We destroy it because we need to turn with the rear, and the front is pushing hard.”
Why it matters for Francesco Bagnaia
Bagnaia’s 2026 season has been defined by late-race fade, costing him podiums despite strong starts. His Sprint loss to Martín—who used a medium rear tyre—highlighted the gap when rivals improved their front-end control.
Teammate Marc Márquez, by contrast, struggles early then gains pace, while Fabio Di Giannantonio echoed Bagnaia’s rear-tyre concerns. “We use the rear too much for everything,” Di Giannantonio said. “The other guys have improved the front, so rear control isn’t enough.”
What comes next for Bagnaia?
The Italian heads to Jerez on 29 June for the European opener, desperate to turn his fortunes around. Ducati’s VR46 rider Di Giannantonio currently leads the factory’s challenge with back-to-back poles and Brazil’s only podium in 2026.
Bagnaia’s priority is fixing the GP26’s braking and entry to reduce rear-tyre stress. Without change, his 2026 title defence risks unravelling before the summer swing.