Bagnaia Reveals Ducati Crisis Before Le Mans

Pecco Bagnaia admits the Ducati Lenovo Team is currently facing a difficult period ahead of the French MotoGP at Le Mans after the Desmosedici GP failed to deliver the expected level of performance during the opening phase of the 2026 season.

The double MotoGP world champion openly explained that Ducati is struggling with major braking instability issues, particularly linked to a bike character that has become increasingly “nervous” and unpredictable on corner entry.

The situation has contributed to Ducati securing only three victories from the opening eight races of the season, including two Sprint wins. More concerningly, the factory Ducati line-up of Marc Marquez and Bagnaia is still searching for its first grand prix podium of 2026.

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“It’s a pretty difficult time for Ducati in general,” Bagnaia told Sky Italia.

From a technical perspective, Bagnaia explained that the current Desmosedici GP behaves very differently under braking compared to previous Ducati generations, which were historically known for exceptional hard-braking stability. According to the Italian, the latest bike has become far more sensitive to rider inputs and requires extreme precision to remain stable.

Bagnaia even linked the issue directly to the crash he suffered at Jerez. He believes the bike now moves excessively during corner entry, limiting his ability to maximise the aggressive braking style that previously represented one of Ducati’s greatest strengths.

“The bike is very nervous under braking and moves around a lot,” Bagnaia explained.

Interestingly, Bagnaia admitted he actually feels more comfortable with the bike’s front-end this season compared to previous years. However, the improved front feeling has not translated into consistent performance because the overall balance of the motorcycle remains unstable.

Amid the difficulties, Ducati identified encouraging signs during the Jerez test after evaluating a new aerodynamic package. The latest aero development reportedly improved the bike’s cornering characteristics, especially through fast corners that had become one of Bagnaia’s main weaknesses.

However, Ducati is unlikely to race the new package at Le Mans. Bagnaia revealed that only a limited number of updated aero units are currently available, making the team reluctant to risk damage if the weekend features mixed weather conditions.

Barcelona is instead expected to become the primary target for the debut of the new aerodynamic package because the Catalunya circuit places greater emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency than Le Mans.

Despite the difficult situation and his current ninth position in the championship standings, Bagnaia still believes Ducati has the potential to return to the front once the correct balance is found.

With Ducati continuing to search for solutions to the Desmosedici GP’s braking instability and championship pressure steadily increasing, the French Grand Prix is now emerging as one of the most important weekends in determining whether the Italian manufacturer can recover from its early 2026 MotoGP crisis.