Yesterday, his farewell letter to Ducati; today, the announcement of his new adventure: on this Thursday at Assen, the big news is the partnership between Pecco Bagnaia and Aprilia. An “open secret,” as Bagnaia himself put it, because the paddock had already known about it for some time. It’s a four-year deal, from 2027 to 2031, because Bagnaia is a man of long-term projects, not someone who shakes hands just to see how things go.
The Turin native is thus bringing to a close much more than just a successful and triumphant phase of his racing career; he’s closing a chapter of his life—the very one he had hoped would accompany him until the end of his career. But relationships are in a state of flux, just as reality itself is, and so are values—those that Pecco feels have “changed”, in fact. And so, since Motegi 2025—a diamond amid a season of cubic zirconias— the idea of a move, of a farewell, has taken root in his mind until it became a decision. The future, therefore, points to Noale, where his friend and rival Marco Bezzecchi awaits him on the other side of a pit garage entirely made in Italy.
“I’m really happy about what’s going to happen, about what my future will be,” Bagnaia said. “The news had become something of an open secret, and now it’s great that it’s out in the open. I pushed hard to get a very long-term contract because I believe so strongly in what we can build together. The support I’ve received has been enormous, fantastic. I think we share the same perspectives and goals, so I’m very happy. That said, I still have thirteen races to race with Ducati; we’re working well and improving a lot. We fought for the win last week, just as we did at Le Mans and Mugello, so we’re on the right track. I just need to take that extra step, and I’m working on myself to make that happen. I think we’ll continue to close in on the top positions.”
When was the moment you really started thinking about leaving Ducati?
“Last year wasn’t an easy season. I struggled a lot, and some things started to change after Japan. At that point, I thought maybe the time was right to consider other options for the future as well. I kept an open mind. Aprilia has always given me a lot of support, and I believe it was the right time to make this decision. I had several possibilities, but I believed in a long-term contract with them, and I think it was the right time to make the move.”
At Aprilia, you’ll be joining Marco Bezzecchi, who’s also a close friend of yours. Did you talk about it before you made your decision?
“Honestly, when you have to make decisions like this, you have to think for yourself. When you have a very close relationship with someone, it’s normal for that person to try to help you and talk things through with you. Sometimes that can be positive; other times, maybe not so much. In any case, I’ve never had any problems with my teammates. I’ve always had good relationships, because for me, respect comes first. The atmosphere in the pit must be peaceful. I think Marco and I will work well together, and the relationship we have will help us on this journey. I’ve already had friends as teammates—Luca Marini, Manzi, and even Martin in Moto3—and I got along well with them; I think it’ll be the same this time around.”
You said that something changed after Japan last year. Can you explain what, specifically during the weekend when you won both races and Marc won the title?
“There will be a time and place to talk about these things, but I don’t think this is it. It’s not the right time.”
Yesterday we also read your farewell letter.
“After eight years, I thought it was right to take a moment to say goodbye properly. It’s true, we’ll finish this season together, but I didn’t want to just wait until the end and say I was leaving—and that’s it. This moment is more important than that. My fondest memories of my career have been with Ducati.”
Are you sorry you won’t be ending your career in red?
“Very much so. That was the goal. Out of respect for them, I also waited long enough before making a 100 percent decision. That’s always been my desire, that’s always been my dream: to start and finish there. For me, in terms of commitment and outlook, that was my desire. But we take different paths. Ambitions and perspectives have probably changed. Certain values have shifted, and I chose the team that most closely aligned with my own values. So that’s how it went.”
Why did you want a four-year contract with Aprilia, which is anything but normal in our sport?
“Because I believe in relationships. Usually, two years is already a long time; four years is an exceptionally long time for MotoGP. But I believe in the project. With the new regulations, it will take time to understand them, to work on the bike, and to build everything the right way. Pushing for such a long contract made me happy. They were happy too; we met halfway, and we signed.”
What were these weekends with Ducati like, knowing you were already headed elsewhere but not being able to say so?
“Well, we’re all professionals. We worked as best we could. Obviously, I didn’t participate in the Brno test—I went home. But otherwise, it’s just like before. We’re working just like before, we’re working hard, and we’re moving forward.”
Do you have any advice for Acosta regarding his future with Marc?
“Marc isn’t a monster! ( laughs) So you can have a good relationship with him.”
Was there a moment, over the past two years, when you thought, ‘Actually, it’s not so bad working with him’?
“A specific moment? Well, it’s always a bit like how the press portrays it. Because in the end, when Bastianini arrived, the winter had been hellish: ‘Who knows how the relationship in the pit will go,’ people said. When Marc arrived, it was even worse. So either I’m the one who never has any problems with my teammates—because I probably respect them so much—or there’s no need to make such a big fuss about it.”
Let’s talk about Assen. Your confidence seems to be growing; you’re coming off four consecutive podiums, and you’ve won here in every category. Could this be the right weekend to get back to winning in the race?
“It’s definitely a very good track for me. I was strong here last year as well, but then I lost both the Sprint and the race. What we did at Brno was positive, but here we also have to keep an eye on the weather conditions. It’s going to be very hot, but that could change, and that, in turn, changes the work we need to do. I really like how the bike is performing this year, and if we can take another step forward compared to the last few races, we’ll be able to fight for the win.”
What’s your fondest memory of Assen, both on and off the track?
“A great memory is my first Moto3 victory in 2016. In MotoGP, I’d say 2024, because I felt really good on the bike—I had exceptional confidence. And off the track, the first time I saw my name in the circuit tunnel: it was amazing—I felt like a star, like the Walk of Fame,” concluded the future Aprilia rider.