Franco Morbidelli is preparing for what could be a difficult 2026 MotoGP season as he takes on Ducati’s 2025 bike, a model that sparked significant criticism during the previous year. Despite racing the highly successful GP24 for two seasons—one of the most dominant bikes in MotoGP history which won 16 out of 20 races in 2024—Morbidelli never managed a victory with it, only securing two podium finishes in 2025 while struggling for consistency.
Even though his performance last year was uneven, Morbidelli secured a spot on the 2026 grid. However, moving up to the GP25 introduces new obstacles for the Italian rider as he attempts to adapt to the controversial machine.
Adapting to the Controversial Ducati 2025 Bike Proved Difficult for Many
The Ducati Desmosedici GP25 became a contentious topic throughout the 2025 season because several of Ducati’s own riders, except for Marc Marquez, found it hard to adjust to the changes. Francesco Bagnaia was particularly outspoken about his dissatisfaction, repeatedly criticizing the bike and resorting to using parts from the older GP24 model by season’s end.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Morbidelli’s VR46 teammate, experienced similar issues as Bagnaia, mainly struggling with braking and corner entry on the 2025 bike. This widespread difficulty hinted at fundamental problems with the design, raising concerns for Morbidelli as he prepared to ride the same model in 2026.
Insights from Morbidelli’s Testing Reveal Why Bagnaia Disliked the 2025 Bike
Initially, Morbidelli’s crew chief suggested he might continue using the GP24 this coming season. However, comments and interviews from the rider during testing at Sepang indicate that he has indeed been evaluating the GP25. Although Morbidelli was initially unconcerned about riding the much-criticized 2025 bike, he quickly understood the reasons behind Bagnaia’s frustrations after experiencing certain handling issues over just a couple of days.
During a report on After The Flag, journalist Jack Appleyard explained the situation:
“He gave a very GP25 interview yesterday where he said: ‘In the morning, I felt super comfortable’, because he was using the medium rear tyre,”
said Appleyard.
“He was 2.5 seconds adrift of what a good lap time is around here, as everyone was in the morning on the tyres that don’t often perform.”
“And then he said: ‘In the afternoon, we put in the soft tyre and I was lost, I had no feeling whatsoever, I didn’t know what the front was going to do’.”
“It’s like we put on an interview from Fabio Di Giannantonio or Pecco Bagnaia from last year. I’m sure Frankie has quickly, in the space of two days, one and a half days if you count it after the rain, has gone: ‘Ah, OK, that’s what Pecco was talking about.’”
Morbidelli’s Future and 2026 Season Hang in the Balance Amid Bike Struggles
If Morbidelli does ride the GP25 in 2026, he faces the risk of a difficult campaign. Despite only minor differences between the 2024 and 2025 Ducati bikes, both Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio encountered significant challenges with the newer model, especially in managing braking zones and cornering dynamics. Ducati’s management, including team manager Davide Tardozzi, appeared unable to fully explain or solve Bagnaia’s problems during the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was spotted testing improved 2024 aero parts at Sepang, suggesting that Ducati is focusing on optimizing the previous year’s machine rather than advancing the GP25 setup. If Morbidelli has to rely on the contested 2025 version, his performance could suffer considerably.
For Morbidelli, a strong season is critical as his future in MotoGP looks uncertain. Reports indicate that VR46 may not retain him beyond 2026, with Valentino Rossi planning to introduce two new riders for 2027. This uncertainty adds pressure on Morbidelli to adapt quickly and produce results despite technical hurdles.
