Francesco Bagnaia moves from Ducati to Aprilia for 2027 MotoGP season

Italian two‑time MotoGP world champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia announced he will leave Ducati at the end of the 2026 season and sign a multi‑year contract with Aprilia Racing starting in 2027. The deal runs through at least 2030 and will see Bagnaia partner with fellow Italian Marco Bezzecchi, forming an all‑Italian lineup for the Noale‑based team.

Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola welcomed the signing, saying the move aligns with the team's vision of strengthening Italian motorsport on the world stage. At the same time, Ducati confirmed the recruitment of Spanish rider Pedro Acosta for the 2027 season, marking the first time since 2010 that Ducati will not have an Italian rider in its factory line‑up.

The transfers represent a major shuffle in the MotoGP paddock, with Bagnaia’s departure ending an eight‑season stint at Ducati that yielded two world titles, while Aprilia aims to close the performance gap with the dominant manufacturers.