Pecco Bagnaia: 'We are ready, but the competition is closer than ever'

In an exclusive interview ahead of the 2026 season opener, Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia has admitted that while Ducati's pre-season testing data looks strong, the competition has narrowed significantly compared to previous years.

The two-time MotoGP World Champion singled out his new teammate Marc Marquez, Aprilia's Jorge Martin, KTM's Pedro Acosta, and the surprisingly fast Enea Bastianini as riders capable of winning in Thailand. He also mentioned Fabio Quartararo's improved form on the Yamaha as a potential dark horse.

'The Ducati is still the bike to beat, I believe that. But the gap is smaller. KTM have made a big step, Aprilia are strong, and even Yamaha looked competitive in the last test. It will be a season where consistency matters more than ever,' Bagnaia told reporters at the Ducati team launch event in Bologna.