That Pecco Bagnaia was out of Ducati for next year was an open secret, as was the fact that he would end up at Aprilia. But now it’s official. After Ducati announced that it would not continue with them, it was its “arch rival” Aprilia that confirmed that Bagnaia will compete with them in 2027.
The official communication talks about the start of the agreement, 2027. But the most interesting thing is that instead of a two-year contract, or a more common 1+1, the agreement covers four years. That is to say, the next two “transfer cycles” Pecco will continue at Aprilia, one of the conditions that the Italian has set and that is still surprising.
Having a contract with Ducati, only Rivola has made statements and, logically, there is no photograph of Bagnaia’s agreement or connection with the Noale brand, beyond what they have communicated. The world of transfers is complicated and the commitments made conclude at the end of the year.
This is another of the peculiarities, that contracts in MotoGP are binding for calendar years on a regular basis, and that leaves it in the hands of the previous team whether or not to release the rider for the preseason tests. In any case and despite the Ducati-Aprilia rivalry, it is to be hoped that Pecco will be able to test the RS-GP just as Bezzecchi and Martín, who also came from Ducati, did two seasons ago.
Pecco’s departure from Ducati ends Ciabatti’s legacy
And speaking of Ducati, although it has yet to be confirmed that both Di Giannantonio and Álex Márquez are going to KTM, it cannot be overlooked that with the departure of Bagnaia from the official team, it implies that in 2027 there will not be any rider who was with the brand in 2023, when Paolo left the position.
First Bastianini, Martín, Marini and Zarco left Ducati at the end of 2024. And now with a Morbidelli that is expected not to renew with VR46, plus the departures of Pecco, Álex and Fabio, in 2027 all the pilots will be after Ciabatti’s departure. But there are more, of which there are in 2026, only Marc Márquez and Fermín Aldeguer will continue with the brand, which Pedro Acosta joins.
Without a doubt a change of cycle at Ducati and, also, for the sporting career of Pecco Bagnaia, who can find in the RS-GP the tool to fight for the title again.
Rivola, in some peculiar statements where there were any, mixed concepts to welcome Pecco: «Michele Colaninno and I share the same vision of supporting Italy, so we both think about Marco and Pecco together for the next chapter of Aprilia Racing. Bagnaia’s arrival confirms the value of Italian sport, which in recent months has distinguished itself on the world stage thanks to the achievements of Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1, Jannik Sinner in tennis and Federica Brignone at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Therefore, welcoming Pecco fills us with pride and represents a new boost for Italian sport on an international level. We will give him and his family a warm welcome, but first we will try to defeat him! Having a multiple World Champion is a responsibility that we are looking forward to assuming.
