Two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia to leave Ducati at the end of the season

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bagnaia-francesco/nahP9n9q/"]Bagnaia[/a] joined Ducati as a rookie in ‌2019 and ended a 15-year wait for ‌a riders’ title by securing the 2022 ‌championship, the team’s first since that of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stoner-casey/GlLEqArb/"]Casey ‌Stoner[/a] in 2007.[/p][p]He is now Ducati’s most successful rider, with 31 victories, 62 podiums, 28 pole positions and two titles, the second of which came in 2023.[/p][p]Known as "Pecco", ​Bagnaia’s final appearance for the team will be at the Valencia Grand Prix, ​scheduled from November 27 to 29.[/p][p][b]"We've grown together, we've weathered every kind of situation together without ever giving up and we've always spurred each other on to give our all," [/b]Bagnaia said in a post on Instagram.[/p][p][b]"I feel the need to start afresh with a new challenge, but I'll never forget what we've been. You're part of me, and you always will be."[/b][/p][embed guid="f3fbd08a-49ce-4da5-b39f-85fc426eec68" url="https://x.com/ducaticorse/status/2069722903155773853" social-type="twitter" /][p]Bagnaia has faced a challenging period over the past 18 months at Ducati, where he has been overshadowed by Marc Marquez since the Spaniard joined the factory team in 2025. On Tuesday, seven-time world champion Marquez extended his contract with Ducati through 2028.[/p][p]Marquez dominated last season en route to securing a seventh title, while Bagnaia finished fifth, trailing his teammate by 257 points, after previously being Ducati’s leading rider.[/p][p][b]“Sporting results tell only part of Pecco's value: his clean ⁠and elegant ​riding style (I like to call him 'Il Pinturicchio' — the little painter) together with his great fairness on track — combined with remarkable determination when overtaking — ‌made Ducatisti fall in love with him,”[/b] Ducati Motor Holding CEO Claudio Domenicali said in a statement.[/p][p][b]“On top of that, he is a great professional and a great person away from racing.”[/b][/p][p]Bagnaia will arrive at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after claiming his first win of the season in the Czech ‌Grand Prix sprint last week. He was ​unable to secure a double, however, as ‌he was overtaken late in Sunday’s race by teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquez-marc/UPhfij2b/"]Marquez.[/a][/p][p]He heads into the next round trailing championship ⁠leader [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bezzecchi-marco/EXzAZEse/"]Marco Bezzecchi[/a] ⁠by 53 points.[/p]