The Italian snapped a 15-year title drought for Ducati in 2022 when he beat Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo to the championship, marking the Italian model’s first since 2007.
Bagnaia then efficiently defended his crown in 2023, keeping off Ducati rival Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing in a showdown on the remaining spherical of the season.
Along with his contract up for renewal on the finish of the season, Bagnaia is a serious piece of the 2025 rider market – although a transfer away from Ducati is unlikely.
Talking to motogp.com after pre-season testing – through which Bagnaia was dominant on the 2024 Ducati – workforce supervisor Davide Tardozzi provided an replace on contract negotiations with the world champion.
“We’re discussing the most recent particulars along with his supervisor,” Tardozzi mentioned.
“We’re in no hurry. Pecco is already targeted on the 2024 championship and seeing how the primary race in Losail goes. However we try to finalise issues as quickly as potential. There is no such thing as a deadline.
Davide Tardozzi, Workforce supervisor Ducati Workforce, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Workforce
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
“Each events need to keep collectively, Pecco desires to remain at Ducati and we additionally need him to stick with us. So, I feel it’s a matter of time. We’ll attempt to do it as quickly as potential however, once more, with out dashing.”
Solely 4 riders coming into the 2024 season are contracted past the yr: Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta at KTM, and Johann Zarco and Luca Marini with Honda.
Ducati has a stacked roster of riders who shall be gunning for a manufacturing facility workforce seat in 2025, together with Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi and new Gresini signing Marc Marquez.
Had Martin gained the championship in 2023, he would have mechanically earned a promotion to the manufacturing facility Ducati workforce.
Bastianini – who was signed to the works workforce over Martin for 2023 – stays for 2024, and seems to have discovered his type once more in pre-season testing after an injury-hit marketing campaign final yr.
Bagnaia will start his second title defence on 10 March in Qatar.
