Jorge Lorenzo Backs Pecco Bagnaia Title Fight in 2026

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Jorge Lorenzo believes Francesco Bagnaia will once again prove himself a genuine title contender despite enduring a difficult 2025 campaign with Ducati.

Bagnaia recorded his toughest season since joining the factory Ducati squad, managing just two victories and finishing a distant fifth in the championship standings. In contrast, new team-mate Marc Marquez dominated on identical machinery, securing 11 grand prix wins en route to a seventh world title.

The downturn in results has reportedly placed Bagnaia’s long-term factory future under scrutiny, with Pedro Acosta widely linked to a potential move into the Ducati works line-up for the upcoming 850cc era. However, early indications from the 2026 pre-season have been encouraging, with Bagnaia expressing improved comfort aboard the GP26 during the Sepang test.

Speaking to the official MotoGP website in Malaysia, Lorenzo voiced strong support for the two-time world champion.

“Pecco is still a champion, he's an incredible rider, super fast, super talented, super precise, and he didn't show that last year,” Lorenzo said.

“His poor results didn't reflect what he's capable of, and I think when he feels more comfortable with the bike, he'll show that he's a title contender.”

Bagnaia’s struggles in 2025 were largely attributed to a lack of front-end feeling, eventually traced to the rear ride height device on the GP25. Lorenzo sympathised with the impact such technical nuances can have at the elite level of MotoGP competition.

“In this environment, where everyone is the best of the best, the small details are very important,” Lorenzo explained.

“I remember when I was at Yamaha in 2014; the year before, I fought against Marc Marquez for the championship. I was very strong, but they changed the rules, they put on harder tyres, they reduced the fuel by two litres, and the bike changed completely.”

“Perhaps from the outside it didn't seem like much, but for me it changed a lot of things, and my results were very bad at the beginning of the season.”

With improved technical feedback on the GP26 and a reset under revised regulations, 2026 now presents Bagnaia with a critical opportunity to reassert himself in the championship battle.o, Ducati, MotoGP 2026