Francesco Bagnaia showed promising signs of a MotoGP comeback during the early 2026 testing at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit, a venue he favors. However, according to technical commentator Mauro Sanchini, the upcoming test at Buriram in Thailand will present a significantly tougher challenge to prove whether Bagnaia has truly regained his competitive edge.
At the start of February, the MotoGP riders returned to action at Sepang, where Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini, set the fastest times and excelled in the Sprint Race simulation. Bagnaia followed closely with the second-best average lap times during the Sprint Race sim, displaying consistency that caught the attention of Ducati’s rivals.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola, impressed by Bagnaia’s performance, remarked that other teams could “go home” given the gap, with the best non-Ducati riders nearly four-tenths behind the top three motorcycle riders. Bagnaia himself felt encouraged by improving his qualifying pace and his ability to push the front end of his bike harder than in the difficult 2025 season. Still, Sanchini advised caution about overestimating the Sepang results.
Why Thailand Will Be a Crucial Benchmark for Bagnaia
Former World Superbike competitor and current Sky Sports Italy analyst Mauro Sanchini emphasized that although Bagnaia won the Sprint race at Sepang in 2025 from pole position, truly proving his return will require strong performance at the upcoming Buriram test this weekend. The Thai test occurs just before the season-opening Grand Prix, a critical event where Bagnaia must demonstrate his readiness to challenge on the new Ducati setup.
Sanchini shared with Fanpage that seeing Bagnaia compete closely with Marc Marquez at Buriram would confirm Ducati addressed the issues that plagued Bagnaia last year, especially in corner entry. He said,
“There, you can give a different weight to what you saw. Marc, on the other hand, is someone who’s strong both at Sepang and in Thailand. I don’t expect any major upsets against him. But overall, Buriram will give us clearer indications.”
He further stated,
“I think the worst for Pecco is already over. In Japan, he showed that when he’s in shape, he can hold his own against Marc and the others. Now, I’ve seen him more positive, and I expect a strong season.”
Sanchini added,
“[Buriram] is not his favourite track. He doesn’t have to dominate, but I want to see him there, close by, clear, taunting. That tells me he’s really back.”
Reviewing Bagnaia’s Difficult 2025 Season and Marquez’s Dominance
The 2025 season was a low point for Francesco Bagnaia, who suffered his worst results since joining Ducati. He struggled to finish races, failing to cross the finish line in six of the last seven Grands Prix and dropping to fifth in the championship standings. In stark contrast, Marc Marquez secured the 2025 MotoGP World Championship with a record five rounds remaining after joining Ducati.
Marquez’s dominance was highlighted by the immense points gap over Bagnaia, amassing a 267-point lead by the final race at Motegi, despite Bagnaia’s victory at that same Japanese Grand Prix from pole position. The Motegi event marked the only successful finish Bagnaia managed in the last segment of the season.
Looking ahead, Sanchini hopes to see Bagnaia challenge Marquez at Buriram as he did when winning in Japan last year, since Marquez himself displayed strength by winning the 2025 season opener at the Thai Grand Prix on his Ducati factory debut. Marquez finished 1.732 seconds ahead of Alex Marquez, while Bagnaia trailed 2.398 seconds behind the leader in that race.
Implications for Bagnaia’s MotoGP Comeback and Season Outlook
The Buriram test and the subsequent Thai Grand Prix stand as critical moments for Francesco Bagnaia’s 2026 campaign. Demonstrating competitiveness against Marc Marquez will not only validate Ducati’s adjustments but also signal a resurgence for Bagnaia after a challenging season. His performance in Thailand could shape the narrative for the entire season and indicate whether he can truly contend for the MotoGP title once again.
As Bagnaia prepares for the test at Buriram, fans and analysts watch closely to see if the Ducati ace can reestablish himself among the frontrunners and reignite the championship battle with Marquez and other top riders.
