At least today, the #63 wasn't the only Desmosedici to suffer. As in yesterday's Sprint, Pecco Bagnaia kicked off his 2026 season with a ninth place finish in the Thai GP. Ahead of him were both VR46 bikes, behind him, among the Ducati riders, there was only test rider Michele Pirro, in Gresini colors. Pecco acknowledged this: "After testing, the other Ducati riders remained more competitive than me, I took a step back."
It is a fact that Bagnaia did not confirm his test speed, but it is also true that today Ducati saw its streak of 89 consecutive podiums come to an end. The best Desmosedici was sixth, ridden by Di Giannantonio. This may be a sign of a problem that extends beyond the Italian's pit box. Marquez would have added to the statistics, that much is true, but a rear tyre puncture prevented him from doing so. The rear tyre was also a thorn in Bagnaia's side, "I was sliding and spinning up to fifth gear," he said, and the issue of tyre wear and management is perhaps the main concern with which Ducati leaves Thailand. Beaten by Aprilia.
"I managed the tyres a lot, but I was never able to really push hard. I tried to do so just to understand the real behaviour of the tyre. With eight laps to go, the bike started to spin even on the straight. It was really strange, and I lost more positions. Even managing it as I did, it was impossible to maintain a consistent pace."
After a streak of 89 Grand Prix races, Ducati did not make it to the podium.
"After testing, I would have said it was impossible. We were riding really fast, with great pace and speed even with very worn tyres. Then, over the weekend, I really felt the difference in conditions, which I couldn't adapt to. I took a step back. In general, the other Ducati riders were more competitive than me, especially on the flying lap, but today Marquez was also having a good race. Anyway, I'm not in a position to say anything. I was just struggling to finish the race. "
Was it still a useful weekend in view of the season finale?
"For me, after finishing a season like last year it was important to start from scratch and start finding the feeling again. I'm not so worried about the result. It's true, it's not the position I want to finish in, but it's a starting point. And then it's also true that during the race weekend I didn't feel good. FP1 was the best session I had. From FP2 until the race, however, I started to struggle a lot. It was completely the opposite of the test, because in the test I felt great: I was able to push well, I was able to control the tyres a lot. Then, for some reason, during the weekend we started to suffer a lot. We have to improve, because right now we are no longer the fastest."
Did the Ducatis not like the specification brought here by Michelin?
"No, that's not true. This is a very good track for us. We've always won here. We've always won in Austria too. So it's a very favorable track for us, and in theory, the tyre was too. But for some reason, it was more difficult this time. And Aprilia did an incredible job, because in the end, it went well, and they improved a lot."
Do you have any idea why it was so much more difficult? Last year you didn't feel great, but you were still on the podium.
"Because the others improved and we took a step back, so we need to understand why."
And where did you take that step backward?
"Our bike turns a bit less. Not in testing, but on race weekend, the Ducati turned a bit less. And it was very difficult to manage the rear tyre with the throttle."
How did you feel physically today? Yesterday you suffered a lot from the heat.
"It was tough because the temperature was very high. I can't say exactly how high it was, but it was really very high. With all the warning lights coming on, my bike looked like a Christmas tree, but I tried to manage it as best I could. When I started to see some warning lights, I stayed in the group for a while, just trying to control the tyres and manage everything as best I could, but the situation was the same. So I think it was difficult in every situation."
The thermometer read two degrees higher than in 2025. Do you think that can make such a difference?
"I don't think so. Normally, our bike performs quite well in high temperatures. So, as I said, we need to work on it and understand what happened."
The Aprilias were impressive today.
"Let's see what happens next weekend. It's true that Bezzecchi and Aprilia have done a great job since the tests. Ogura, too, as soon as he passed me, left me behind. He accelerated from 3rd to 4th and gained four tenths on me. Let's wait and see how it goes in Brazil."
But was there a problem with high pressure or wear?
"Wear. As I said before, in the last 8 laps, I was sliding and spinning up to fifth gear."
Are you happy for Bezzecchi, though?
"Of course, very much so. It's a shame about yesterday because he could have done a double. I've done plenty of stupid things like that, so I can't say anything to him. At least we beat him on the Tuk-Tuk," the Turin native concluded jokingly.