Pecco Bagnaia has once again found himself in the spotlight after comments about his Ducati set-up at the 2026 San Marino MotoGP. In an exchange caught by DAZN cameras, the Italian appeared to say that Ducati "won't let him" try a basic set-up that he believes could help him out of his struggles.
The moment occurred while Bagnaia was talking with VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is on the same Ducati specification. Di Giannantonio suggested Bagnaia try a "fairly normal set-up" like his own, which he described as really basic. But Bagnaia's reply raised eyebrows.
"That's the least of the problems. I put what they tell me to use. I've already tried everything," Bagnaia said. He added that soft or medium front tyres make no difference to him, and it feels like pulling the clutch as soon as he starts braking. "They won't let me do it," he stated in response to Di Giannantonio's suggestion.
This statement comes amid a tough period for Bagnaia. Since the summer break, he has crashed in three consecutive grands prix. His complaints about a lack of rear grip that only seems to affect him, while data from other Ducati riders shows no such issue, have further complicated the situation. At Misano, after the sprint, he felt "humiliated" by the situation, before crashing in the main race.
Interestingly, just days earlier Bagnaia claimed that Ducati would be 1-2-3-4 in the championship if it ran four GP24s. His latest claim has sparked speculation about the technical freedom he has. Is there a restriction from the manufacturer, or is it purely a matter of development direction that hasn't found a breakthrough?
On the other hand, Ducati boss David Tardozzi emphasised that both parties still trust each other and are working hard to improve Bagnaia's performance. He also called Marc Marquez's Misano win "Marc Marquez at his absolute best". However, Bagnaia's caught-on-camera remark clearly adds another layer of paddock drama.
Bagnaia himself had reverted to a set-up he used earlier in the season, when he was able to fight for podiums. But so far, the rear-grip puzzle remains unsolved. Will Ducati open up the set-up option Bagnaia wants? Or will he have to adapt to the current package? Either way, this admission signals that the rider-team relationship is being tested.
With a long season still ahead, fans will be watching Ducati and Bagnaia closely. If there is indeed a restriction, this could be a turning point for the reigning champion. But if it's merely a communication issue, both need to sit down together. Because in MotoGP, trust and technical freedom are the fuel for podium success.
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