2023 MotoGP World champion Francesco Bagnaia has signed a contract extension with Ducati Lenovo keep his run with the team alive through the 2026 MotoGP season. The contract extension will mean that Ducati Lenovo will retain their all Italian rider lineup for the near future. The extensions occurs as the teams get set to kick off the 2024 MotoGP season in Qatar at Lusail international Circuit this weekend. Here is what the team had to say about the new contract.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team)
“I am so happy to continue racing with the team of my dreams! Wearing these colors is an honor for me. It’s fantastic and a source of pride. Together with Ducati, my team, and all the guys at Ducati Corse, we’ve achieved incredible things. In these three more years (including 2024) ahead of us, we’ll continue to give our best to achieve as much success as possible. I am overjoyed and ready to hit the track in Qatar for the first race of the year.”
Claudio Domenicali (CEO Ducati Motor Holding)
“Pecco is truly the perfect rider for Ducati. He represents our values at their best: style, elegance, and performance. Not only is he fast, determined, and tenacious on track, but he also stands out for his elegance and education off the track. I am very happy for this renewal, which I am sure Ducatisti all over the world will welcome with enthusiasm.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“We are extremely happy to have Bagnaia with us again for 2025 and 2026. Together, we have written an important page of motorcycling history: Pecco was the first Italian rider to win a World Title in MotoGP with an Italian bike, our Desmosedici GP. Together, we brought back a Riders’ World Title that had been missing for 15 years, and we did it again last year. He is a two-time World Champion and has proven on more than one occasion that he truly deserves the number 1 on the fairing of his bike. In addition to these results, Bagnaia continues to demonstrate that he is in perfect harmony with his bike and team. For all these reasons, it was natural for us to want to continue with him. Therefore, we look forward to this new chapter together, confident that we can achieve other important results.”